Protests Intensify Over Bengal School Recruitment Scam

Protests Intensify Over Bengal School Recruitment Scam

Why in News ?

Protests erupted outside WBSSC after the West Bengal government failed to release a promised list of ‘tainted’ and ‘untainted’ candidates following a Supreme Court order cancelling over 25,000 school job appointments made through a scam-ridden 2016 process.

Background of the Recruitment Scam:

• The West Bengal school recruitment scam surfaced after the 2022 arrest of former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee by the Enforcement Directorate.
• It involved cash-for-jobs in recruitment to teaching and non-teaching posts in State-run schools.
• Recruitment was done by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in 2016.

Supreme Court Ruling and Fallout

• On April 3, 2025, the Supreme Court upheld a Calcutta High Court decision cancelling 25,752 job appointments, calling the process “fraudulent and manipulated.”

• The court ordered termination due to lack of a clear list of ‘tainted’ and ‘untainted’
• On April 17, the SC allowed ‘untainted’ teachers to continue until fresh recruitment is completed by 2025, but gave no relief to non-teaching staff.

Protests and Government Response

• Protests began on April 21 demanding the release of the candidate list.
• Government claimed to have shared lists with district inspectors, but has not made them public.
• Protesters insist this is not just about salaries but about dignity and fairness.
• CM Mamata Banerjee announced interim financial aid: ₹25,000/month (Group C) and ₹20,000/month (Group D).
• Teachers say 15,403 out of 17,206 recruits are likely untainted.