The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday dismissed the petition of nearly 350 “tainted” teachers wanting to appear in the fresh recruitment exam, saying “enough is enough” and directed them to move the Supreme Court. The sacked teachers, whose names appeared in the list of ‘tainted’ candidates released by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) on August 30, had filed a petition claiming that their names were erroneously put in the list, and, therefore, they should be allowed to take next week’s teachers’ recruitment exam.

Justice Saugata Bhattacharya, while dismissing the petition, observed that since the Supreme Court is already seized of the matter, the High Court would not interfere.

During the hearing, Justice Bhattacharya enquired if the Supreme Court had allowed the petitioners to work till December 31. “… And after not being allowed to work, what steps did you take?” Justice Bhattacharya asked.

The petitioners’ counsel submitted, “We have not submitted blank OMRs, nor are we candidates beyond the expiry date of the panel.”

According to the petitioners, they are not “tainted” and they were issued admit cards for the fresh recruitment exam by the WBSSC. The court expressed its displeasure at the petitioners and observed, “…Enough is enough, you were not permitted to work, then you did not come, why now?”

According to the counsel of the WBSSC, OMR mismatches and OMR blanks are considered ‘tainted’, while ‘tainted’ itself is a “broad term”, with the list given on the basis of the CBI’s investigation into the case.
Justice Bhattacharya observed, “…Those treated as untainted, they are being allowed to work. Approach the Supreme Court.”

In April this year, the Supreme Court ordered the termination of jobs of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff at the government-aided schools at the secondary and higher secondary levels, terming the 2016 SSC recruitment process “tainted”. Following the top court’s directive, the WBSSC on Saturday released the names and roll numbers of 1,806 “tainted” candidates.