Tue Apr 08 06:40:57 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Rejects CBI Probe into West Bengal Teacher Recruitment Scam

**New Delhi** – The Supreme Court of India has refused to order a CBI investigation into the West Bengal government’s creation of extra teaching and non-teaching posts to accommodate approximately 25,000 individuals whose appointments were voided last week due to a massive recruitment scam. The court overruled a Calcutta High Court order, stating that courts cannot investigate cabinet decisions.

The Supreme Court’s decision comes after it declared the West Bengal School Service Commission’s selection process “vitiated by manipulation and fraud,” rendering the appointments of 25,000 teachers null and void. The court cited widespread cheating and a cover-up that irreparably damaged the selection process.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government had challenged the High Court’s order and sought a separation of “tainted” and “untainted” candidates. However, the Supreme Court deemed this impractical given the scale of the fraud.

Ms. Banerjee, facing a crucial state assembly election next year, reacted strongly to the Supreme Court’s decision, vowing to protect the “deserving” teachers and alleging a conspiracy by her political rivals, the BJP and CPI(M). She also highlighted alleged irregularities in other states’ recruitment processes.

The scam involves the creation of supernumerary posts beyond the 24,640 available positions, leading to the issuance of 25,753 appointment letters. The scandal has already resulted in the imprisonment of several top Trinamool Congress leaders, including former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee.

BJP leader Amit Malviya criticized Ms. Banerjee, calling the Supreme Court verdict a “crushing defeat” and demanding her accountability. Ms. Banerjee, however, stated her government would refine and repeat the selection process. The case highlights significant concerns about transparency and fairness in India’s public recruitment systems.

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