Calcutta High Court Cancels Appointments of Over 25,000 Teachers and Staff

Mixed Reactions to the Verdict

• Relief and Disappointment: The verdict has drawn mixed reactions, with some expressing relief and others disappointment over their uncertain future.

Details of the Verdict

• Invalidation of Appointments: The High Court ruled that the OMR sheets used in the 2016 recruitment process for Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), State Level Selection Test (SLST) 2016, and Groups C, D had been tampered with, rendering all appointments made through that process invalid.
• Orders Given: The court ordered the affected individuals to return their salaries with interest and directed the state's School Service Commission (SSC) to initiate a fresh appointment process.

Individual Responses

• Hope Amidst Uncertainty: Illias Biswas, a teacher affected by the ruling, expressed the need for temporary relief if the state government appeals to the Supreme Court for a stay order.
• Optimism for Better Opportunities: Saddam Hossain, who lost his job as a teacher, remains optimistic, hoping that the cancellation of appointments made through corrupt practices might improve his chances of getting appointed near his area.
• Disappointment and Protest: Rustam Ali, a candidate who has been protesting for jobs, expressed disappointment, stating that the court's decision to cancel appointments punished deserving candidates along with those who obtained jobs through corrupt means.
• Learning Lesson: Ganpati Mondal, another candidate who cleared the TET in 2016 but did not get any appointment, welcomed the court order, considering it a learning lesson for those who got jobs through unfair means.
• Exception for Special Cases: The high court made an exception in the case of Soma Das, who is suffering from cancer, allowing her to retain her job.

Political Response

• Chief Minister's Stance: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee termed the high court order "illegal" and stated that her government would challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court. She reassured those whose jobs were canceled not to lose heart, promising to fight for them.
• Opposition's View: Opposition leaders, particularly from the BJP, have welcomed the judgment, with BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari asserting that it proves the TMC government's involvement in corruption.

Overall Impact

• Mixed Emotions: The cancellation of over 25,000 job appointments in West Bengal has created a mix of hope, disappointment, and uncertainty among the affected individuals, highlighting the complexities and challenges surrounding the recruitment process in the state.