Kolkata, Dec 17 (NationPress) A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court has annulled the employment of 313 teachers affiliated with schools under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in the hilly regions of Darjeeling, Kurseong, and Kalimpong, located in the northern part of West Bengal.

In the ruling, Justice Biswajit Basu remarked that the hiring of these teachers was conducted unlawfully. The court has also instructed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police to persist with its inquiry into the situation.

Justice Basu further mandated an immediate halt to the salaries of the 313 teachers. He questioned the rationale behind the state covering costs for the salaries of teachers whose appointments were deemed illegal. Additionally, he raised concerns regarding the academic credentials of these teachers.

There were serious allegations regarding the unlawful recruitment of educators in GTA-controlled schools within the hill regions. Reports indicated that these appointments took place unilaterally without any formal notifications.

A legal case was initiated to seek intervention from the Calcutta High Court. During proceedings, Justice Basu had initially called for an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

However, the state government contested this decision before a division bench of the Calcutta High Court, which included Justices Harish Tandon and Madhuresh Prasad. The division bench upheld Justice Basu's order.

The state then took the division bench's ruling to the Supreme Court, which ultimately overturned the directive for a CBI inquiry and decided that the CID of the state police would handle the investigation instead.

As the hearings concerning the alleged irregular appointments continued, Justice Basu issued the cancellation order on Wednesday.