Babita Sarkar of Siliguri, who won the petition she had filed against the illegal appointment of Ankita Adhikary, a minister’s daughter, joined work at the Indira Uchhya Balika Vidyalaya at Cooch Behar district’s Mekliganj on Monday.

Babita was appointed the political science teacher of the school, a post held by Ankita, the daughter of Bengal minister of state for education Paresh Adhikary.

Adhikary is also the Mekliganj MLA.

Soon after joining work, Babita thanked all the people who had stood by her.

“I had filed a petition in 2021 against the publication of an inappropriate merit list. After an investigation Calcutta High Court ordered me to join work. I am thankful to Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay, my lawyers and friends, and all those who stood by me,” Babita said.

The Cooch Behar school is about 80km from Siliguri.

Babita had appeared in the examination of the School Service Commission (SSC) on December 4, 2016.

When the merit list was published on November 7, 2017, Babita was ranked 20. However, after the second round of counselling Babita came to know that her rank was 21.

It was also learnt that in the exam, Babita had scored 77 and Ankita’s score was only 61. But despite these, Ankita was selected to join as a teacher of political science at the Indira Uchhya Balika Vidyalaya on November 24, 2018.

“Significantly Ankita’s father (minister Adhikary) had joined Trinamul in 2018,” said a source.

On May 17, Calcutta High Court had ordered the case to be investigated by the CBI following which Ankita’s father was also interrogated by the agency.

On May 20, the court directed Ankita be removed from her post and also directed that the salary she had received during her tenure as teacher be returned.

It was under the court’s directive on June 24 that Babita was asked to join in the post left vacant by Ankita.

Babita said that she has not received the first installment which Ankita drew as salary and has since returned. The amount is Rs 7.96 lakh.

“I have not received any amount so far. But whatever amount I may receive, I would like to spend it on charity,” Babita added.

Ranjana Roy Basunia, the head mistress of the school, said on Monday on the appointment: “We are happy that we got a teacher against the vacant political science post.”