School jobs case: Calcutta HC snubs WBSSC for adopting double standards in different courts

Kolkata, Dec 5 (IANS) The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday snubbed West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) for allegedly adopting double standards in the Supreme Court and the high court as regards to cancellation of appointments for those who got jobs in state-run school with unfair means.

A division bench of Justice Debangsu Basak and Justice Shabbar Rashidi, the new special bench in Calcutta High Court constituted to hear all cases related to the alleged cash-for-school-job case in the state, said the special bench was constituted after the apex court of the country returned all the cases in the matter to Calcutta High Court.

The division bench observed that if some candidates have adopted corrupt means to get jobs, why the WBSSC should also be a party to it.

The bench noted that first the commission informed the Calcutta High Court that it cancelled the appointments of such ineligible candidates using the power conferred on the commission.

However, later, when these candidates approached the Supreme Court challenging the cancellation of the appointments, the WBSSC told the apex court that they had to take the step because of the "pressure" of Calcutta High Court.

Taking strong objections to the double standards, the division bench directed WBPCC to file an affidavit clarifying its explanations in the matter.

Justice Basak also observed that if the entire panel gets cancelled because of such double standards, several genuine candidates will be adversely affected.

"In that case, the state government will have to pay compensation at the cost of public money," Justice Basak observed.