The Supreme Court on Tuesday set aside a Calcutta High Court directive that had ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the West Bengal Cabinet’s decision to create supernumerary posts in government-run and aided schools.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar clarified that while the CBI inquiry into the Cabinet decision stands cancelled, all other directions issued by the Calcutta High Court in its ruling concerning the now-terminated appointments of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff in state-run and aided schools will remain intact.

Earlier, on April 3, the Supreme Court had upheld the High Court's order cancelling approximately 24,000 appointments made by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in 2016, in connection with the infamous school jobs-for-cash scam. The top court noted that the recruitment process was tainted by manipulation and fraud and declined to interfere with the cancellation.

However, the Court had also directed that candidates who had already been appointed would not be required to return the salaries they had received during their tenure.

On April 8, the apex court officially revoked the High Court’s order for a CBI investigation into the creation of supernumerary posts, bringing partial relief to the West Bengal government.