Setback to Bengal government, Supreme court upholds dismissal of 25,000 teachers

The apex court's ruling, delivered on April 3, 2025, has confirmed the earlier decision, declaring that the recruitment process was tainted by serious irregularities, leading to the cancellation of these appointments.

A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar concluded that the recruitment process in question was fundamentally flawed. In its judgment, the court stated that manipulations in the recruitment process had compromised the integrity of the appointments to such an extent that they could not be sustained. The justices emphasized that the entire selection process was vitiated and tainted, making the appointments invalid.

The court’s decision reinforces the Calcutta High Court's April 2024 verdict, which had annulled the appointments of over 25,000 staff members across various schools in West Bengal. As part of the ruling, the Supreme Court directed that all individuals who were appointed during the controversial recruitment process would be terminated from their positions. However, in a relief to those affected, the court made it clear that the individuals would not be required to refund any salaries or benefits that they had already received.