[Recruitment Scam] Calcutta High Court Questions State Over 'Allowance' Being Paid To School Staff Whose Appointments Were Cancelled By SC

The Calcutta High Court on Monday questioned the state government over its decision to continue paying group C and D staffers an "allowance" after their appointments were cancelled by the Supreme Court due to being allegedly tainted by the recruitment scam in West Bengal.

Justice Amrita Sinha was hearing a plea by the unsuccessful candidates challenging the decision to pay such an allowance to the disqualified candidates, taken by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Upon hearing the plea, the bench questioned Advocate General Kishore Datta, "So they are being paid for sitting at home? Thousands of [aspirants] remain unemploye but those whose appointments were cancelled are being paid to sit at home?"

The Advocate General responded that the decision to pay an allowance to the candidates emanated out of the policy made by the state government, which could not have been deviated from.

After the Supreme Court had cancelled the appointments of almost 26,000 candidates, it had allowed the non-tainted teaching staff to continue in their roles, but similar relief for non-teaching staff was not forthcoming.

Upon hearing both sides, the bench concluded the hearing and reserved the matter for orders.