Calcutta High Court cancels appointment of 36,000 teachers

The Calcutta High Court has terminated the jobs of 36,000 primary teachers recruited in 2014 for violating reservation quotas and not taking a required aptitude test. However, teachers are allowed to remain in their roles for four months with a reduced salary at the rate of para-teachers. Teachers who complete the required training can apply to the new recruitment process.

The Calcutta High Court Friday terminated the service of 36,000 primary teachers recruited in 2014, saying they were recruited in violation of reservation policies and without appearing for the mandatory aptitude test.

The court, however, allowed the teachers to continue in their jobs in state-run schools for four months but at a reduced salary at the rate of para-teachers. It also held that those teachers who have completed training after recruitment can re-apply in the new recruitment process.

"These teachers, whose jobs have been terminated today, will get salaries for the next four months and will be able to teach, go to school and get salaries at the rate of para-teachers," the court said. Altogether, 42,500 primary teachers were "reportedly" recruited from the 2016 panel on the basis of the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) held in 2014. "In the next three months, the West Bengal Primary Education Board will recruit new teachers in the vacant seats," the court said. The West Bengal Primary Education Board, however, said it will seek legal opinion on receiving the court order and that it intends to appeal against the order. It also claimed that all of the 36,000 teachers have been trained by the board till 2019.

"I am seeking legal opinion on the matter. After getting the order copy, we will decide on the same," Goutam Pal, president of West Bengal Primary Education Board, said. "None of 36,000 teachers are untrained at the moment. All these teachers have been trained till 2019 after recruitment. The candidates have been recruited following the Aptitude Test."

The court also said that teachers who have completed the training can participate in the fresh recruitment process. People aware of the developments said such teachers, if they pass the examination, will be retained without any service break.

Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay said that the board can recruit the primary teachers in the 36,000 vacant seats in the next three months, using funds from arrested Trinamool MLA Manik Bhattacharya, who was kingpin of the WBSSC teachers recruitment scam.

"The court has also said that the non-trained teachers are being given two-year's time to get trained," said Tarunjyoti Tewari, advocate for the petitioners. HC upholds CBI probe in municipal recruitment scam

Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court Friday dismissed the West Bengal government's plea against transferring the probe in the municipal recruitment scam to the CBI.

The state government had sought a review of the order passed earlier by Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay and moved the Supreme Court. The apex court, after giving interim stay, had transferred the case to the high court. Documents of 60 municipalities related to municipal recruitment scam were found in possession of Ayan Sil, who was arrested in connection with a school job scam.

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