Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, clarified that the relief is only for those teachers whose appointments were cancelled due to irregularities in the hiring process, and until the fresh recruitment process is completed.
However, the apex court denied any grant of relief to the teaching staff under Group C and D, attributing a higher number of “tainted” candidates in these categories.
“We are not inclined to accept the prayers of Group C and D employees, as the number of established tainted candidates is higher in number. What has prompted us to pass this order for untainted assistant teachers is that students undergoing studies should not suffer on account of the order passed by this court,” the court noted, reported News18.
Read more: 25,000 lost jobs: West Bengal teachers protest in Kolkata after Supreme Court verdict
Giving a deadline of December 31 by this year to complete the entire process, in its order, SC directed the West Bengal government and WB Staff Selection Commission to release recruitment advertisements for fresh hiring process of assistant teachers by May 31, reported ANI.
“We are inclined to accept the prayer made in the application in so far as it relates to the assistant teachers of classes 9 and 10 and classes 11 and 12. Subject to the following conditions that the advertisement for fresh recruitment shall be out by May 31 and the exam, including the entire process, shall be done by December 31,” the court said.
The court also asked the West Bank government to file an affidavit on the initiation of the recruitment process on or before May 31.
Read more: WB recruitment row: SC invalidates appointment of 25,753 teachers and other staff in schools
The Supreme Court on April 3 had upheld the Calcutta High Court verdict invalidating the appointment of 25,753 teachers and other staff in West Bengal schools, calling the appointment in the state-run and aided schools as “vitiated and tainted”.
