Last opportunity to file counter affidavits to pleas of State of WB, WB SSC, and others, next hearing after 3 weeks, Supreme Court on WB Teacher Recruitment Scam Case

Today (July 16), the three-judge bench of the Supreme Court (SC) was hearing the petitions filed by the State of West Bengal, the West Bengal School Service Commission (WB SSC), and other candidates challenging the Calcutta High Court order that set aside appointments of approximately 25,000 school teachers and non-teaching staff made by WB SSC. The bench constituting Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra gave a last opportunity to the respondents to file counter affidavit within 2 weeks. It said, “No counter affidavit has been filed till date. In the event that any of the respondents seek to file their counters, they shall do so on or before 2 weeks, if no counter is filed then the right to file counter affidavit shall stand closed and the proceedings shall be conducted on the basis of the record as it stands.” Moreover, the SC also highlighted 5 main categories of stakeholders to ensure a smooth hearing including, the West Bengal Government, WB SSC, Original petitioners who were not selected, persons whose appointments are canceled by the High Court, and the Central Bureau of Investigation. The matter will be heard next after 3 weeks. Earlier on April 29, the SC bench stayed Calcutta HC’s order directing the CBI to probe the role of the West Bengal government officials in an alleged teacher recruitment scam.