'All Recommendations Signed By Him': Calcutta HC Seeks Personal Appearance Of WBSSC Ex-Chairperson Soumitra Sarkar In Teacher Recruitment Scam

The Calcutta High Court on Monday sought the personal appearance of the former Chairman of West Bengal Central School Service Commission Soumitra Sarkar while adjudicating upon a plea alleging illegal appointment of assistant teachers in State run schools in West Bengal pertaining to the State Level Selection Test (SLST). 

Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay had earlier ordered the cancellation of appointment of six assistant teachers in the Murshidabad district after noting that they had been illegally appointed pursuant to the illegal recommendation of the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC). The Court had further directed that the illegally recruited teachers should not be paid any salary henceforth and further ordered that the salaries already paid to them must be recovered by the District Inspector of Schools (SE), Murshidabad.

On Monday, the Court sought the personal appearance of the former Chairman of the School Service Commission, Programme Officer and the Ex-Advisor on March 9 by directing, 

"I direct the learned advocate for the School Service Commission to communicate this direction of personal appearance of Mr. Soumitra Sarkar, Ex-Chairman of the School Service Commission, Mr. Samarjit Acharya, Programme Officer and Mr. Shanti Prasad Sinha, Ex-Advisor on 9th March, 2022 at 2 p.m. and I also direct the petitioner to communicate this order to the School Service Commission."

The Court also ordered for their impleadment as respondents in the present proceedings. 

The Court also took on record the report filed by the District Inspector of Schools, Murshidabad pursuant to the Court's earlier orders. Upon perusal of the report, Justice Gangopadhyay noted that all recommendation letters had been issued by the West Bengal School Service Commission on January 14, 2020 and had been signed by the then Chairman of the Commission, Soumitra Sarkar. The Court was further apprised that Sarkar held office till January 15, 2020.

"Here it is also found from the affidavit filed by the District Inspector of Schools that all recommendation letters were issued by the West Bengal School Service Commission on 14.01.2020 and it appears that these recommendation letters were signed by the then Chairman of the Commission Mr. Soumitra Sarkar", the Court noted further. 

Furthermore, the Deputy Director of School Education (Grand-in-Aid) vide the affidavit filed apprised the Court that the then Deputy Director of School Education (Grand-in-Aid), West Bengal vide a communique dated July 11, 2018 had forwarded the six vacancies, which is a relevant question in the writ petition, to the School Service Commission on July 12, 2018. 

The counsel for the School Service Commission also sought for extension of time to submit a further report as per the Court's directions. Opining that this would be the last opportunity given, the Court observed further, 

"Learned advocate for the School Service Commission has submitted that he will also come up with the further report in the form of affidavit day after tomorrow i.e. on 9th March, 2022. Such extension of time is granted to the Commission and if such affidavit is not filed by 9th March, 2022, Commission will not be granted any further opportunity to file such affidavit and necessary presumption will be drawn against it."

The matter is slated to be heard next on March 9 at 2 pm. 

Case Title: Md. Abdul Gani Ansari v. The State of W. B. & Ors

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