The state School Service Commission (SSC) has cancelled the recruitment of at least 17 teachers in secondary schools complying with a Calcutta High Court order.
In one such order, which was issued on March 17 but has come to light now, the commission has said the job offer “appears to have been issued ignoring the position in the waiting list” of the candidate.
“Whereas the aforesaid recommendation… issued by this authority (SSC) in favour of (name of the candidate) appears to have been issued ignoring the position in the waiting list of (the name of the candidate) whose merit position was below the position of all petitioners (who alleged irregularities in appointments) and that of the last validly recommended candidate,” the order says.
The order, signed by commission chairman Siddhartha Majumdar, says: “Hence in terms of the aforesaid solemn order of the Hon’ble High Court… the recommendation issued to (name of the candidate)... is cancelled today….”
An official of the commission said they had cancelled the recruitment of 17 teachers, who were appointed in 2020.
Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay of the high court, in response to a petition alleging irregularities in the appointment of teachers by the SSC for secondary schools, had in an order on February 16 said: “I direct the... commission to file a report in respect of the allegations made by the petitioners, especially the allegations made in paragraph 7 of the writ application.”
Paragraph 7 stated: “One below-ranked candidate from the waitlist has been recommended by the commission and he has also received appointment.”
Justice Gangopadhyay had earlier this month ordered a CBI probe into recruitment of teachers for Classes IX and X. He has since ordered CBI investigations into the recruitment of Group C and D staff for schools as well as interrogation of minister Partha Chatterjee, who was in charge of the education department when the appointments were made.
All the orders have been stayed by a division bench of the high court.