Suvendu Adhikari clears path for CBI probe into GTA school appointments
Synopsis
West Bengal’s new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has moved to undo a key legal block his predecessor Mamata Banerjee put in place — withdrawing the state’s Supreme Court challenge to a CBI probe into over 400 allegedly illegal teacher appointments in GTA-run schools. It is an early and pointed signal that the Adhikari government intends to reopen the hill region’s recruitment scandal, with potential fallout for TMC’s ally BGPM.
Key Takeaways
CM Suvendu Adhikari on 29 May directed the Chief Secretary to withdraw West Bengal’s Supreme Court petition blocking a CBI probe into GTA school appointments.
The Calcutta High Court had previously ordered the CBI inquiry; the stay was obtained by the former Mamata Banerjee government.
More than 400 teachers were allegedly appointed illegally in GTA-run schools across Darjeeling , Kalimpong , and Kurseong .
Former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee , already in custody for roughly 3 years in the broader school jobs scam, was also linked to the GTA irregularities.
The GTA is controlled by the BGPM under Anit Thapa , a hill ally of the TMC .
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday, 29 May announced that the state government will withdraw its Supreme Court petition challenging a Calcutta High Court order that had directed a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities in teacher appointments at Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA)-run schools across Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong in northern West Bengal. The move effectively removes the last legal barrier to a federal investigation into what officials say was the illegal appointment of more than 400 teachers.
What Adhikari Announced
Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Adhikari stated that he had already directed the Chief Secretary to initiate the withdrawal from the apex court. “More than 400 teachers were appointed illegally in the GTA-run schools. There was a case in the Calcutta High Court, which gave clearance for a CBI investigation in the matter. The previous state government then approached the Supreme Court and obtained a stay order on this case. But now the state government will come out of this case. I have already given an instruction to the Chief Secretary on this count. So, the hurdle for a CBI probe in the matter will be removed,” he told mediapersons.
How the Case Reached This Point
The Calcutta High Court had earlier ordered a CBI inquiry into the alleged recruitment violations. However, the previous state government led by Mamata Banerjee challenged that directive before the Supreme Court, securing a stay that effectively froze the probe. With Adhikari’s administration now pulling out of that challenge, the stay is expected to lapse and the CBI will be free to proceed.
Investigators had alleged that proper recruitment protocols were not followed during the appointment process at GTA-run schools and that the credentials of many appointed teachers were never verified. This comes amid the broader West Bengal school jobs scam, in which former state Education Minister and former Trinamool Congress (TMC) secretary general Partha Chatterjee has already spent approximately three years in custody in connection with a multi-crore cash-for-jobs case.
The GTA Connection
The GTA is currently governed by the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), founded by Anit Thapa, who serves as the body’s Chief Executive. The BGPM is a hill ally of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), adding a political dimension to the probe that could complicate inter-party dynamics in the Darjeeling hills. Notably, the alleged irregularities in GTA schools were reportedly linked to the same network of influence that characterised the broader state-level recruitment scam.
What Happens Next
Once the state formally withdraws its petition, the Supreme Court stay will cease to operate and the CBI will be positioned to launch its investigation. The agency is expected to examine appointment records, credential verification processes, and potential financial transactions linked to the over 400 disputed appointments. The development marks a significant early policy signal from the Adhikari government, signalling a departure from its predecessor’s approach to federal oversight of state recruitment processes.
Point of View
Which controls the hills, is a TMC ally, and a CBI probe into its school appointments could fracture that alliance or at minimum embarrass it. What mainstream coverage underplays is the pattern here — this is the second major recruitment irregularity cluster in West Bengal to face CBI scrutiny, suggesting systemic failures in the state’s appointment processes that go beyond individual wrongdoing. Whether the CBI can move quickly enough to establish facts before political calculations shift the narrative remains the central question.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CBI probe into GTA school appointments about?
The CBI probe concerns alleged illegal appointments of more than 400 teachers in schools run by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) across Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong. Investigators allege that proper recruitment rules were not followed and that teacher credentials were not verified in many cases.
Why was the CBI probe blocked earlier?
The Calcutta High Court had ordered a CBI investigation, but the previous West Bengal government led by Mamata Banerjee challenged that order in the Supreme Court and obtained a stay, effectively halting the probe until now.
What has CM Suvendu Adhikari done to revive the probe?
Adhikari has directed the Chief Secretary to withdraw the state’s petition from the Supreme Court. Once withdrawn, the stay will lapse and the CBI will be free to begin its investigation into the GTA school appointments.
How does this connect to the broader West Bengal school jobs scam?
The GTA recruitment irregularities were allegedly linked to the same network implicated in the wider state-level school jobs scam. Former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, who has spent around three years in custody in that case, was also named in connection with the GTA appointments.
Who controls the GTA and why does it matter politically?
The GTA is governed by the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) under Chief Executive Anit Thapa. The BGPM is a hill ally of the Trinamool Congress, meaning a CBI probe into GTA appointments could have significant political consequences for the TMC’s influence in the Darjeeling hills.
