West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee strongly criticized the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a Calcutta High Court verdict that invalidated the appointment of over 25,000 teaching and non-teaching staff recruited by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in 2016. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Banerjee expressed her disagreement with the apex court's judgement, stating she cannot support a blanket cancellation of all appointments and voiced her deep concern for the thousands affected by the ruling. The verdict stems from the long-standing school jobs-for-cash scam, in which the recruitment process conducted by WBSSC was deemed “vitiated and tainted” by the courts. The Supreme Court upheld the Calcutta High Court's order, which led to the termination of appointments made under the allegedly compromised recruitment drive.
 

Mamata Banerjee, reacting to the judgement, questioned the broad nature of the cancellation. “As a citizen, I am saying I can’t support this judgement. I hope it is not distorted. The court says the appointments of these candidates are cancelled. However, those who are employed need not be asked to refund any payment made to them,” she said. She emphasized that not all appointees were guilty of wrongdoing and urged that the verdict not be seen as a condemnation of the entire recruitment batch. “The ones whom you call tainted, we don’t have proof regarding them,” she stated, suggesting that the ruling unfairly punishes those who may have secured their jobs legitimately.
 

Banerjee drew parallels to the Vyapam recruitment scam in Madhya Pradesh, questioning the BJP's silence on that issue despite its gravity. “Does the BJP government want to collapse the education system of Bengal? What happened in Vyapam? Fifty plus people were killed,” she said, implying selective political targeting. While she affirmed the state government’s intention to follow the legal directive, she also assured affected teachers that the reappointment process would be conducted efficiently and fairly. “Order states that candidates who are not tainted can appear for the fresh selection process. We will accept the judgement, and we will complete the process in three months. The SSC is an autonomous body, but we will ensure that it completes the reappointment process of teachers,” Banerjee announced.
 

Mamata Banerjee went a step further in alleging political motivations behind the verdict, claiming interference from the BJP and the CPI(M). “The judge who gave the first order in Calcutta High Court is now a BJP MP. I know that this was done by BJP and CPI(M). They will get an answer soon,” she asserted. Banerjee also highlighted the emotional and psychological toll the ruling is taking on affected candidates. “I am coming to know that some are getting depressed. If something happens to them, who will be responsible? Our lawyers will review this order,” she added, urging calm and resilience among those impacted. In a show of solidarity, Banerjee announced she would be attending a sabha (gathering) of affected teachers on April 7. “To all the teachers, they wanted to conduct a sabha, and they asked if I can be present. On April 7, I will participate in their sabha and listen to them. I will tell them not to lose hope. You all can apply, and we will make sure that the process is completed as soon as possible.”
 

The Chief Minister also used the occasion to criticize the BJP-led central government, accusing it of targeting Bengal disproportionately. “So many scams in BJP-ruled states, yet no investigation happens. Is it a crime to be born in Bengal? Or are they afraid of Bengal’s talent? They want to collapse the education system of Bengal. I understand the target of BJP and the government of India.” Banerjee reaffirmed her support for the dismissed teachers and hinted at exploring legal remedies. “I will be beside the teachers. BJP can put me in jail if they want. We are thinking about how to deal with this legally,” she concluded. The Supreme Court ruling has created ripples across Bengal’s political and educational landscape. While the judiciary has taken a strong stance against corruption in recruitment, the blanket nature of the dismissals and their impact on thousands of professionals continue to raise questions about due process, justice, and the future of the state's education system.