Calcutta HC Overturns Order Cancelling 32,000 Teacher Jobs
The Calcutta High Court’s division bench on Wednesday set aside the earlier 2023 single-judge order that had cancelled the appointments of 32,000 primary teachers in West Bengal. The previous order, delivered by then-judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay, had annulled the appointments over alleged irregularities in the 2014 Teachers’ Eligibility Test recruitment.
Court Says Irregularities Not Proven in All Cases
The division bench held that the alleged discrepancies were not established for every candidate and that removing thousands of teachers after nearly a decade of service would cause severe hardship. The court concluded that mass cancellation was not justified without individual proof of wrongdoing and therefore restored all appointments.
Teachers Celebrate After Verdict
Many teachers broke down in relief outside the court after learning that their jobs were secure. The decision brings immediate stability to the state’s primary education system, which would have faced a major staffing crisis had the cancellations been upheld.
Background and Ongoing Probes
The dispute stems from the 2014 recruitment cycle conducted by the West Bengal Board of Primary Education. Allegations later emerged of a wider recruitment scam. While investigative inquiries may continue, the High Court clarified that service cancellation cannot be based on assumptions without specific evidence.
