West Bengal SSC recruitment scam: CM Banerjee to challenge HC order declaring 2016 test 'null and void'

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that the state government will challenge the High Court's verdict that declared the selection process of State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) in the state government-sponsored and aided schools, null and void cancelling altogether around 24,000 jobs.

The state CM said, "We challenge the verdict, as it affects 1.5-2 lakh families. Is it possible to return the salary of eight years in 4 weeks?"

Those who were improperly appointed have been ordered by the court to repay their salaries within six weeks.


"Snatching jobs of 26,000 people. No matter what happens, we will continue the fight. Those who lost their jobs should not be depressed," Banerjee remarked.

She said, "We stand beside you and we will continue to do so. This was the order of someone who has now joined the BJP."

"Supreme Court had set this aside and called for a new division bench. But who will constitute the new division bench? Justice is crying," she added.

A division bench consisting of Justices Debangsu Basak and Md Shabbar Rashidi instructed the CBI to conduct additional investigation into the appointment process and furnish a report within three months.

Moments after the high court announced the order, hundreds of school job aspirants waiting outside its premises rejoiced, and many broke into tears.

"We had been waiting for this day. After years of struggle on the streets, justice has finally been delivered," one of them said.