Was Frequent Replacement of WBSSC Officials Partha Chatterjee’s Key Strategy in Recruitment Scam?
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Synopsis
Kolkata's recruitment scam reveals shocking revelations from CBI sources, implicating former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee in orchestrating a significant manipulation scheme within the West Bengal School Service Commission. Dive into the details of this scandal that has captured national attention and the intricate web of officials involved.
Key Takeaways
- Frequent official reshuffling was a tactic used to obscure recruitment irregularities.
- The CBI's investigation highlights the need for transparency in educational recruitment.
- Chatterjee's strategy involved creating a loyal core team for manipulation oversight.
- Legal actions are ongoing against several officials associated with the scam.
- The Supreme Court's intervention underscores the seriousness of the allegations.
Kolkata, Sep 13 (NationPress) Sources from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have disclosed that the frequent transfers and reshuffling of officials within the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) were pivotal in former State Education Minister and Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee’s approach to enable extensive irregularities in teacher recruitment.
The WBSSC is responsible for hiring teaching personnel for secondary and higher secondary institutions, along with non-teaching staff in Group-C and Group-D categories across state-operated schools. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court annulled the WBSSC’s entire 2012 panel of 25,753 recruitments, citing widespread discrepancies.
According to CBI investigations, Chatterjee implemented a multi-layered system of manpower management to facilitate the smooth execution of these irregularities while reducing suspicion.
Investigators assert that Chatterjee first assembled a core group of loyal senior officials to supervise recruitment manipulations. This team reportedly included former West Bengal Board of Secondary Education president Kalyanmoy Gangopadhyay, former WBSSC chairman Subiresh Bhattacharya, screening committee head S.P. Sinha, ex-WBSSC secretary Ashok Saha, and staff members Samarjit Acharya and Parna Basu. Many of them have already faced charges in relation to the scam.
At the operational level, junior officials responsible for data manipulation were frequently exchanged. This intentional rotation, sources indicate, ensured that no single official possessed comprehensive knowledge of the irregularities.
“Chatterjee was once recognized as a proficient human resources manager before venturing into politics. Ironically, he seems to have leveraged that expertise to craft an illegal framework that hindered the early detection of the scam,” remarked a CBI insider.
Partha Chatterjee has been in custody longer than anyone else charged in the WBSSC recruitment case. He was initially arrested in July 2022 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is conducting a parallel investigation. The CBI subsequently took him into custody as well.
Although Chatterjee has recently obtained bail in most cases filed by both the CBI and ED, he remains in judicial custody due to separate allegations concerning irregularities in the recruitment of primary teachers under the West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBBPE).
Point of View
It is imperative to approach this matter with a focus on transparency and accountability. The allegations against Partha Chatterjee and the intricate details of the WBSSC recruitment scam highlight a pressing need for reform in educational institutions to ensure integrity and fairness in recruitment processes. The situation warrants careful observation as investigations continue.
NationPress
13/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of WBSSC?
The West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) is responsible for recruiting teaching and non-teaching staff for secondary and higher secondary schools across West Bengal.
Who is Partha Chatterjee?
Partha Chatterjee is a former State Education Minister and secretary general of the Trinamool Congress, currently facing charges related to teacher recruitment irregularities.
What were the allegations against Chatterjee?
Chatterjee is accused of orchestrating a recruitment scam by frequently rotating officials within WBSSC to conceal widespread irregularities in teacher hiring.
What action has been taken against the WBSSC recruitment panel?
The Supreme Court annulled the entire 2012 recruitment panel of the WBSSC due to reported irregularities.
Is Chatterjee still in custody?
Yes, while he has secured bail in some cases, he remains in judicial custody due to other allegations related to primary teacher recruitment.
