New Delhi, February 28:
The School Service Commission (SSC) has informed the Supreme Court that 5,303 candidates were allegedly appointed illegally as teaching and non-teaching staff in government-aided secondary and higher secondary schools. The SSC chairman confirmed this revelation on Thursday.
According to an affidavit submitted on February 15, five days after the Supreme Court concluded hearings on a writ petition by the state government, the commission detailed the irregularities. The petition challenged a Calcutta High Court ruling that ordered the cancellation of over 23,000 appointments due to alleged corruption in the recruitment process.
The commission’s findings indicate that 4,091 individuals had discrepancies related to Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) issues, while 1,212 were identified as beneficiaries of rank manipulation or out-of-panel appointments.
Breakdown of Irregularities
The SSC report states:
- OMR Discrepancies (4,091 candidates): The marks recorded on the commission’s server did not match the mirror image of their OMR sheets provided by the CBI.
- Rank Manipulation (1,212 candidates): Certain candidates were allegedly promoted in the merit list through unlawful means, placing them within the selection zone for appointments.
“….Therefore, the actual number of tainted persons is 5,303 (1,212 + 4,091),” stated advocate Jaideep Gupta in a written submission on behalf of the commission.
SSC Defends Its Position
The commission further argued that the Calcutta High Court’s April 22, 2024, order, which annulled the appointments of over 23,000 candidates, was based on the assumption that separating illegal recruits from legitimate ones was impossible. The SSC contested this claim, asserting in its submission:
“The finding that the commission has failed to disclose information before the Hon’ble high court is incorrect. The commission filed affidavits, as mentioned hereinabove, before the Hon’ble high court. In the said affidavits, the commission not only cooperated with Hon’ble court as is duty bound and has also demonstrated that it is entirely possible to segregate the tainted candidates from those who had not been involved in any wrongdoing.”
Revised Figures Submitted to Supreme Court
During the February 10 hearing, the commission assured the Supreme Court that it would soon provide an updated count of illegal appointments. SSC chairman Siddhartha Majumdar confirmed, “We have submitted to the Supreme Court a corrected figure based on the CBI probe. The commission is of the view this figure will help the apex court conclude.”
Initially, the number of undeserving appointees was estimated at 5,845. However, an SSC official clarified that overlapping cases between the two categories led to a revised and accurate count of 5,303.
With these findings, the Supreme Court is expected to make a final decision regarding the appointments, determining whether the High Court’s broad cancellation order will be upheld or reconsidered.
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