WB SSC Scam: HC Upholds Order Directing CBI Probe, Minister To Be Questioned

Justice Gangopadhyay directed state minister Partha Chatterjee to appear before the CBI for interrogation.

A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday, 18 May, upheld the order of a single bench that directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to examine the recruitment irregularities in the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC).

(Photo: PTI)

A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday, 18 May, upheld the order of a single bench that directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to examine the recruitment irregularities in the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC).

The "irregularities" in recommending appointments of teaching and non-teaching staff by the SSC were termed as a "public scam" by the division bench comprising justices Subrata Talukder and AK Mukherjee, reported news agency PTI. The matter was sent back to the single bench of Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay to look into money trail.

Immediately after the division bench's order, Justice Gangopadhyay directed state minister Partha Chatterjee to appear before the CBI at 6 pm for interrogation by high rank officers on the same day in connection with the case.

While Chatterjee subsequently challenged the order before the division bench, it did not accept the matter as the applicant did not have proper documents related to the order.

Justice Gangopadhyay also authorised the central agency to arrest Chatterjee if the latter does not cooperate in the process of the investigation. He also suggested that Chatterjee be relieved from all state government posts with immediate effect, as per an IANS report.

In 2016, the West Bengal government had issued a notification to the SSC to recruit 13,000 Group-D employees for state-aided/-run schools. In 2019, the panel making the appointments had expired, but, despite that, at least 25 persons were allegedly appointed by the WBBSE.

The alleged illegal appointments were made by the West Bengal government when Chatterjee was the state education minister. He now holds the portfolios of industry, commerce, and parliamentary affairs in the state Cabinet.

(With inputs from PTI and IANS)