In a significant turn of events, the State of West Bengal has taken a decisive step by submitting a Special Leave Petition to the Supreme Court challenging the ruling of the Calcutta High Court. This ruling rendered nearly 24,000 teaching and non-teaching positions, which were filled through the 2016 SSC recruitment process, invalid.

On April 22, the Calcutta High Court made a crucial decision, declaring the nullification of government and aided school positions. These jobs fell under scrutiny due to their association with the notorious cash-for-jobs recruitment scam.

The State has contended that rather than distinguishing between valid and invalid appointments, the High Court made an error by invalidating the entire 2016 selection process. It has been argued that this decision will impact approximately 23,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel in the State.

Additionally, it has been asserted that the High Court based its decision solely on oral arguments without supporting affidavits. In light of this, the State has argued that the High Court's approach has been cursory.

Furthermore, it has been argued that the High Court's action disregards the significant vacuum that will be created in State Schools unless a new selection process is promptly conducted. The State has stressed that this will have adverse effects on students, especially considering the upcoming new academic session.

Moreover, it's contended that the High Court's decision overlooks the substantial gap that would emerge in State Schools unless a swift initiation of a new selection process takes place. The State emphasizes the adverse impact this delay would have on students, particularly with the forthcoming new academic session.

In a detailed order running into more than 280 pages, a division bench comprising Justices Debangsu Basak and Md Shabbar Rashidi nullified the entire panel of the 2016 SSC Recruitment due to identified irregularities with OMR sheets. Consequently, the bench mandated the state to organize fresh examinations for the affected positions.

Further, the Court also ordered individuals who were identified as fraudulently appointed to return the salaries they had received during their tenure.

The Court noted that the entire recruitment panel stemming from the 2016 recruitment process had been compromised due to irregularities associated with the OMR sheets. Numerous sheets were discovered to be blank, rendering the panel susceptible to cancellation.

Furthermore, the Court discovered that many individuals whose appointments were contested had been appointed after the expiration of the 2016 recruitment panel by submitting blank OMR sheets. In light of these findings, the Court also ordered an investigation into the perpetrators of the fraud and resolved the petitions by annulling the entire 2016 SSC Recruitment Panel.