26000 SSC Teacher: Major Setback! Supreme Court Dismisses Review Petition in SSC Recruitment Case.

26000 SSC Teacher: Candidates from the 2016 recruitment drive faced a major setback following the Supreme Court’s verdict in the SSC Teacher Recruitment Case. The apex court has dismissed all review petitions filed in this matter, thereby upholding the Calcutta High Court’s decision to cancel the jobs of 26,000 teachers. This decision affects both eligible and ineligible candidates and has created significant uncertainty in the state’s education sector.

Background of the Case

The Calcutta High Court had ordered the cancellation of nearly 26,000 teacher appointments from the 2016 SSC recruitment process due to allegations of widespread corruption. The state government, the SSC, and eligible candidates challenged this verdict in the Supreme Court, but the apex court initially affirmed the High Court’s order. Subsequently, eligible candidates filed review petitions seeking a reconsideration of the judgment. The case was heard by a bench led by Justice Sanjay Kumar. When the petitioners’ counsel, Menoka Goswami, inquired about the verdict, the judge explicitly stated that he had already made his decision and dismissed all petitions. Many were disheartened by this swift decision, believing that not enough time was given to thoroughly examine the numerous petitions.

Impact of the Supreme Court’s Verdict

As a result of this decision, even the jobs of eligible teachers could not be saved. The Supreme Court offered no leniency on humanitarian grounds and canceled the jobs of everyone, regardless of their eligibility. Key impacts of this ruling are highlighted below:

• Job Cancellation: The jobs of approximately 26,000 teachers appointed under the 2016 panel have been canceled.
• Uncertain Future: The future for these teachers is now completely uncertain. They will have to sit for new exams to regain employment.
• Salary Repayment: As per the Calcutta High Court’s order, the directive for those who lost their jobs to return their received salaries may now be enforced.
• Legal Battle Continues: Despite the dismissal of the review petitions, eligible candidates have stated that they will continue their legal fight. Options like a Special Leave Petition (SLP) and other legal avenues are being explored.

Future Steps and Possibilities

With the review petitions dismissed, the candidates now have the option to file a Curative Petition. However, legal experts believe that the chances of success with a curative petition after a review has been dismissed are very slim. For now, the dismissed teachers can remain in their posts until December 31st of this year. Their future beyond that depends entirely on subsequent legal actions and government decisions. This verdict is expected to have a long-term impact on the state’s education system and has sparked a new debate about the plight of deserving teachers.