32000 Teacher Recruitment Case: The case regarding the cancellation of jobs for 32,000 untrained primary teachers has taken a new turn. The hearing is underway in the Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court, and all eyes are on the court’s verdict. The future of these teachers, appointed in 2017, is the subject of detailed discussion.
Current Status of the Case
The case, identified as MAT Number 873/2023, is being heard by the Division Bench of Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Ritobrata Kumar Moitra. The West Bengal Board of Primary Education is the main petitioner, with Priyanka Naskar and others as respondents. An additional 78 CAN files are connected to this case, highlighting its significance.
Arguments Presented in Court
For the past three days, State Advocate General Kishore Dutta has presented strong arguments on behalf of the Primary Education Board. His main points are:
- Discrepancy between Plea and Verdict: The Advocate General argued that the candidates had prayed for jobs, but the single bench ordered the cancellation of jobs, which is inconsistent with the original plea.
- Lack of Proof of Corruption: He claimed that while there were allegations of corruption in the recruitment process, they were never proven.
- Application of the Evidence Act: He also raised questions about the process of examining the interviewers, doubting whether Section 165 of the Indian Evidence Act was correctly applied.
- Panel Publication: The Board asserts that the panel was published at DPSC offices as per the rules and was later made available online in 2022 following a court order.
The Teachers’ Side of the Story
Today, June 23rd, the lawyers for the appointed teachers are presenting their arguments. Senior Advocate Kalyan Bandyopadhyay is arguing on behalf of the untrained teachers appointed in 2017. This is a crucial phase, as it is the first time the teachers are getting an opportunity to present their case in detail. They were not a party to the case in the single bench or the initial division bench hearings.
Potential Verdict and Future
Legal experts believe a final verdict is unlikely today. Multiple lawyers for the teachers will present their arguments, which may require more time. Following this, the lawyers for the deprived job seekers will present their case.
It is believed that the court is striving for a neutral position to deliver a judgment. A solution is being sought where deserving and deprived candidates can get appointed while the jobs of the 32,000 teachers are also protected. The Supreme Court has currently stayed the interview and aptitude test process, returning the rest of the hearing to the Calcutta High Court’s Division Bench.
The verdict in this case will determine the future of thousands of teachers and job aspirants in West Bengal. Everyone is hoping for a fair and humane judgment that will be beneficial for all parties involved. Stay with us for further updates.
