Calcutta HC directs CBI to approach SC on plea to dissolve Bengal school job SIT
Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court has refused to dissolve the CBI's SIT probing West Bengal's multi-crore school job scam, telling the agency to take its disbandment plea to the Supreme Court. With the SIT now five years old, officers retired or promoted, and most investigations reportedly complete, the case enters a critical procedural juncture.
Key Takeaways
The Calcutta High Court on 29 September 2026 declined to act on the CBI 's plea to dismantle the SIT probing the West Bengal school job scam .
Justice Amrita Sinha directed the CBI to approach the Supreme Court , citing an existing SC stay on related hearings.
The SIT was formed in 2022 on the orders of then-judge Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay , now a BJP MP from Tamluk.
The CBI told the court that the SIT has been operating for five years and that most investigations are complete.
Remaining probe work, the CBI argued, can be handled by its anti-corruption branch without the SIT structure.
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, declined to rule on the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) application seeking disbandment of its Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the multi-crore West Bengal school job scam, directing the agency to take the matter to the Supreme Court instead. The single-judge bench of Justice Amrita Sinha cited an existing Supreme Court stay on hearings in related matters as the basis for its refusal.
Background: How the SIT Was Formed
The CBI constituted the SIT in 2022 following an order by a Calcutta High Court single-judge bench — then presided over by Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who subsequently became the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha member from the Tamluk constituency in East Midnapore district. The SIT was tasked with investigating allegations of cash-for-jobs irregularities in school recruitment during the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
What CBI Argued in Its Application
Last month, the CBI filed an application in the Calcutta High Court contending that investigations handled by the SIT had been largely completed. The agency maintained that the SIT was no longer operationally necessary and that any residual probe work could be absorbed by its own anti-corruption branch.
Additional Solicitor General Dhiraj Trivedi, appearing for the CBI on Tuesday, told the court that the SIT had been functioning for five years. 'Many officers who were part of the SIT have retired, while some have been promoted again. So, it was necessary to dismantle the SIT formed for a specific investigation,' he said.
Court's Response and Key Questions Raised
Justice Sinha questioned the overall progress of the SIT's investigation and sought clarity on the future trajectory of the probe before advising the CBI to move the Supreme Court. The court's position stems from a Supreme Court-imposed stay on hearings related to such matters in the Calcutta High Court — effectively limiting the bench's jurisdiction to take any fresh decision on the SIT's fate.
What Happens Next
The CBI is now expected to approach the Supreme Court to seek directions on dissolving the SIT. The broader Bengal school job scam — which has seen multiple arrests, including those of senior TMC leaders — remains one of the most closely watched corruption cases in eastern India. The outcome of the Supreme Court's consideration could determine whether the SIT formally winds down or continues in a reduced capacity alongside the CBI's anti-corruption wing.
Point of View
The CBI finds itself in a jurisdictional loop — unable to wind down a five-year-old SIT without fresh judicial clearance from the apex court. What is notable is the timing: the CBI is seeking disbandment precisely as the case inches toward a potential trial phase, raising questions about investigative continuity. The broader scam, which touched senior TMC functionaries, has significant political stakes — and how the Supreme Court responds to the SIT dissolution plea will signal how aggressively the apex court intends to shepherd the case to its conclusion.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Calcutta High Court refuse to dissolve the CBI's SIT in the Bengal school job case?
The court declined because the Supreme Court has imposed a stay on hearings related to such matters, leaving the Calcutta High Court without jurisdiction to take a fresh decision on the SIT's disbandment. Justice Amrita Sinha accordingly directed the CBI to move the Supreme Court directly.
What is the West Bengal school job scam?
The West Bengal school job scam refers to allegations of large-scale cash-for-jobs irregularities in school recruitment during the previous Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government. The CBI has been investigating the case since 2022 through a dedicated SIT formed on court orders.
Why does the CBI want to dismantle its own SIT?
The CBI argued that most investigations by the SIT have been completed, making the team redundant. It also cited operational issues — many SIT officers have retired or been promoted — and said the remaining probe work can be handled by its anti-corruption branch.
Who originally ordered the formation of the SIT?
The SIT was formed in 2022 following an order by Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay of the Calcutta High Court. Gangopadhyay has since retired from the judiciary and is now the BJP Lok Sabha member from the Tamluk constituency in East Midnapore district.
What happens next in the Bengal school job case?
The CBI is expected to approach the Supreme Court to seek directions on dissolving the SIT. The Supreme Court's response will determine whether the SIT is formally wound down or continues alongside the CBI's anti-corruption branch as the case moves toward trial.
