Will the Calcutta HC Hear the WBSSC Contempt Petition?
Click to start listening
Synopsis
In a surprising turn of events, the Calcutta High Court has opted not to hear a contempt-of-court petition against the West Bengal government regarding the WBSSC. This decision raises questions about the future of the annulled appointments and the potential next steps for the petitioners.
Key Takeaways
- Calcutta High Court declines to hear contempt petition.
- Contempt petition relates to the invalidation of WBSSC appointments.
- Supreme Court ruling upheld the need to annul the entire selection panel.
- The state government and WBSSC argued against the hearing.
- Next steps for petitioners remain uncertain.
Kolkata, May 7 (NationPress) A division bench of the Calcutta High Court decided on Wednesday not to advance with the hearing of a contempt-of-court petition lodged against the West Bengal government and the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC).
The petition alleged that state officials failed to comply with a recent Supreme Court directive that annulled 25,753 teaching and non-teaching appointments made via the WBSSC’s 2016 selection panel.
A comprehensive hearing took place at the division bench, comprising Justice Debangsu Basak and Justice Shabbar Rashidi, on May 1, with the verdict announced on Wednesday.
Recently, a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar upheld a 2023 ruling from the Calcutta High Court that nullified the appointments. The apex court agreed with the High Court's assessment that the entire selection panel needed to be discarded due to the authorities' inability to differentiate between qualified and unqualified candidates.
The Supreme Court also endorsed the Calcutta High Court's view that the complete panel should be annulled because of the state government's and the commission's failure to separate the “genuine” candidates from those deemed “tainted.”
Consequently, the contempt-of-court petition was filed against the West Bengal government and WBSSC, alleging that the latter did not enforce the apex court's ruling.
However, on Wednesday, the High Court bench concurred with the state's arguments that the contempt petition could not be considered, as the Supreme Court had also modified the earlier ruling while affirming it.
With the High Court stepping back, it's uncertain whether the petitioners will now seek the Supreme Court's intervention to continue with the contempt proceedings.
Point of View
It is essential to recognize the implications of the Calcutta High Court's decision not to entertain the contempt petition against the WBSSC. This development reflects ongoing challenges in ensuring accountability and compliance with judicial orders in the education sector. The situation warrants close attention as it evolves.
NationPress
08/06/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the main issue in the contempt petition?
The contempt petition alleged that the West Bengal government and WBSSC failed to implement a Supreme Court order that annulled over 25,000 appointments.
What did the Supreme Court conclude about the WBSSC appointments?
The Supreme Court upheld a Calcutta High Court ruling that deemed the entire 2016 selection panel invalid due to the inability to distinguish between qualified and unqualified candidates.
What was the outcome of the hearing on May 1?
A detailed hearing took place, but the judgment regarding the contempt petition was announced on May 7, stating that the court would not proceed with the case.
What does this mean for the petitioners?
The petitioners may now consider approaching the Supreme Court to continue with the contempt proceedings against the state authorities.
Why did the High Court refuse to hear the contempt plea?
The High Court found that the Supreme Court had modified the original ruling, which led to the conclusion that the contempt petition could not be entertained.
