E-Paper
HC orders CBI probe into functioning of Bengal’s School Service Commission
A single judge bench of Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who on Wednesday ordered the fresh probe, said an endeavour was made to save the services of the illegally appointed persons by creating supernumerary posts
The Calcutta high court has ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe who is “pulling the strings” of West Bengal’s School Service Commission after it submitted an application seeking to retain the services of allegedly undeserving candidates by creating supernumerary posts. The agency is separately investigating an alleged scam in state-run schools involving the recruitment of ineligible teachers.
A single judge bench of Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who on Wednesday ordered the fresh probe, said an endeavour was made to save the services of the illegally appointed persons by creating supernumerary posts. “While fighting the corruption this court will naturally want to know who is the brain behind it.”
The CBI was directed to start its investigation on Wednesday and submit its report within a week.
“It is an organised crime which has been committed in respect of the school employees appointment, where a large number of genuine candidates have not got jobs and some persons got the jobs though it has been declared by this court in respect of some of the cases that those appointments are invalid and of no effect,” the court said.
The court earlier ordered the CBI to look into allegations that thousands of people recruited as teachers and non-teaching staff through fraudulent means. Two ruling Trinamool Congress lawmakers, including former education minister Partha Chatterjee, and three other former officials of the commission have been arrested in connection with the alleged scam.
In June, the court removed Ankita Adhikary, the daughter of former junior education minister Paresh Adhikary, from her job and ordered her to return the salary she received as a school teacher.
