New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday invalidated the appointment of 25,753 teachers and other staff in state-run and state-aided schools in West Bengal, terming their selection process “vitiated and tainted”. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar upheld a Calcutta High Court verdict dated April 22, 2024, annulling the appointments.
Pronouncing the verdict, the CJI said the employees, whose appointments have been annulled, are not needed to return their salaries and other emoluments.
The top court also ordered the state government to initiate a fresh selection process and complete it within three months.
It, however, made relaxation for the disabled employees on humanitarian grounds, saying they would remain in the job.
The bench fixed the West Bengal government’s plea challenging the high court direction for a CBI probe for hearing on April 4.
On February 10, the top court reserved its judgement on a batch of petitions in the matter.
