**Calcutta High Court Halts Stipends for Non-Teaching Staff Amid Job Scandal**
The Calcutta High Court has temporarily suspended the West Bengal government’s initiative to provide stipends to non-teaching staff from the 2016 batch, following a Supreme Court ruling that upheld the dismissal of their positions due to a jobs-for-cash scandal. Justice Amrita Sinha, who had reserved her decision last Monday, ordered a halt to the stipend payments for Group C and D non-teaching staff.
In response to the Supreme Court’s significant ruling in April, the Mamata Banerjee-led government had announced stipends of ₹25,000 for Group C staff and ₹20,000 for Group D staff. However, separate petitions were filed in the Calcutta High Court, contesting both the new selection process for teachers and the government’s decision to grant stipends to non-teaching staff.
The Supreme Court had previously criticized the Bengal government for its handling of the situation, affirming the High Court’s decision to annul the appointments of over 25,000 teaching and non-teaching staff made by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in 2016, which were linked to the jobs-for-cash scandal. A bench comprising former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar described the selection process as fraudulent and tantamount to cheating.
The High Court identified serious irregularities, including tampering with OMR sheets and manipulation of ranks, leading to the dismissal of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff in state-run and state-aided schools. However, the Supreme Court clarified that those already appointed would not be required to return their salaries received thus far.
In summary, the Calcutta High Court’s decision to pause the stipend payments underscores the ongoing legal and ethical challenges surrounding the recruitment processes in West Bengal’s educational institutions.
**FAQ**
*What was the reason for the Calcutta High Court’s decision to halt stipends?*
The Calcutta High Court paused the stipend payments due to a Supreme Court ruling that upheld the dismissal of non-teaching staff involved in a jobs-for-cash scandal, citing fraudulent selection processes.