2016 SSC Panel Cancel List West Bengal
Calcutta High Court cancels the 24000 teachers’ appointments in WB. The court specially canceled all appointments for teaching and non-teaching staff made through the 2016 SSC recruitment.
West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) announced the State Level Selection Test (SLST) in 2014 to recruit teachers for West Bengal’s state-run schools.
In another case, in 2016, the West Bengal government directed the School Service Commission to hire approximately 13,000 Group-D employees for state-run and government-aided schools. By 2019, the panel tasked with making these appointments had expired.
During the hearing, it was claimed by the petitioners that the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) hired at least 25 people for these positions.
The petitioners also claimed that after the SSC panel expired, over 500 people were appointed and are now receiving salaries from the state government.
A CBI investigation was launched in response to an order from the Calcutta High Court bench of Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay. In 202, the investigation focused on the appointment of 269 primary school teachers in Bengal government-sponsored and aided schools, which were deemed illegal because the candidates allegedly did not pass the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET).
The CBI’s FIR alleged irregularities in the TET 2014 primary selection process, claiming that incorrect questions and answer keys were used to exclude eligible candidates.
It was also claimed that some ineligible TET 2014 candidates were appointed as Assistant Teachers, with candidates who submitted blank exam papers receiving appointments. The agency also claims that an additional panel was formed, which included people who failed the TET-2014 exam. This process has been criticised for displaying favouritism and nepotism.
Justice Gangopadhyay directed Bengal Industries and Commerce Minister Partha Chatterjee, who previously held the education portfolio, to appear before the CBI for questioning. The Enforcement Directorate is conducting a separate investigation into alleged money laundering linked to the teacher recruitment scam. While the CBI investigates the criminal aspect, the ED tracks the money trail. The financial investigation agency has filed two FIRs in connection with the case.