The Supreme Court has on Thursday delivered a decisive judgment concerning the ongoing controversy around ineligible candidates from the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) panel of 2016. These individuals reportedly secured positions by paying money, thereby engaging in irregular practices that undermined the fairness of public sector appointments. The apex court ruled that such candidates will not only lose their jobs but will also be held financially accountable for their unlawful appointments, requiring them to return all salaries received, including interest accrued during the period.
Key Highlights of the Judgment:
Nature of Repayment: The court emphasized that these individuals must pay back every rupee of salary earned since their appointments began, along with interest. This repayment is aimed at ensuring justice and accountability while deterring future misconduct in public service employment.
Financial Estimates: According to WBSSC sources, the initial calculations reveal that the amount each candidate will need to return ranges from ₹11 lakh to ₹26 lakh. However, this figure could rise based on years of service and revised pay scales over time.
Pay Scale Impact: The repayment calculations are based on the initial starting salary for each category of employees:
Higher Secondary-Level Teachers: This group has the highest repayment obligation, with an average starting monthly gross salary of around ₹44,000. Each individual is estimated to return approximately ₹26 lakh for the service period between 2019 and 2024.
Secondary-Level Teachers: Each candidate in this category has a starting salary of ₹40,000 and will need to return around ₹24 lakh, assuming no salary increments during the specified period
Group-C Non-Teaching Staff: These employees earn an average monthly starting salary of ₹26,000, and each is required to repay about ₹16 lakh.
Group-D Non-Teaching Staff: This category involves the lowest repayment, with individuals having a starting salary of ₹19,000. Each candidate in this group is expected to return around ₹11 lakh.
Timeline and Context:
The service period under scrutiny begins in 2019, which marks the initiation of employment for candidates selected from the WBSSC’s 2016 panel. It extends up to 2024, aligning with the period during which these appointments were active. In April 2024, the Calcutta High Court had invalidated a total of 25,753 such appointments across teaching and non-teaching roles. The Supreme Court’s division bench, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, upheld this earlier ruling, affirming the need for stringent measures against the misuse of public office.
Implications:
This landmark ruling has profound implications for public sector employment practices in West Bengal and beyond. It underscores the importance of transparency, integrity, and meritocracy in the appointment process. Furthermore, it sends a clear message that any benefits obtained through corrupt or unlawful means will be revoked and financial liability imposed. The financial burden on the affected individuals serves not only as a penalty but as a deterrent to similar misconduct in the future.
The judgment is expected to significantly impact those in the higher secondary teaching category due to their higher pay scales, followed by secondary-level teachers, Group-C staff, and Group-D staff. The court’s firm stance also reiterates its commitment to safeguarding the principles of justice and equity in public administration.
This development highlights the need for systemic reforms in recruitment procedures to prevent such lapses in the future. It sets a precedent for legal accountability in public employment and ensures that merit remains the cornerstone of appointments in the public sector.
