Mamata Banerjee requests the court to reconsider West Bengal job terminations

Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, has appealed to the Calcutta High Court not to cancel the appointments made by the state government in connection with the Bengal jobs scam. The
scam pertains to the alleged irregularities in the recruitment process for various posts in the state’s transport department, and it has led to the arrest of several people, including two of Banerjee’s
cabinet colleagues.

In her plea before the court, Banerjee stated that the appointments were made in good faith and after following all due processes. She argued that canceling the appointments would not only cause hardship to the individuals concerned but would also have adverse effects on the state’s governance and administration. She also pointed out that the appointments were made to fill vacancies that
had been lying vacant for a long time, and canceling them would lead to further delays and disruptions.

The court had earlier directed the state government to conduct a fresh recruitment process for the vacant posts and had also ordered a probe into the alleged irregularities in the previous process. The court had also raised concerns over the alleged involvement of some of the government officials in the scam and
had questioned the state government’s role in the matter.

The Bengal jobs scam had come to light in 2020, and it sparked widespread protests and criticism of the state government. The opposition parties had accused the Trinamool Congress government of using the recruitment process to reward its supporters and had demanded a thorough investigation into the
matter.

The issue has become a political flashpoint in the state, with the opposition parties using it to attack the ruling party ahead of the assembly elections scheduled for later this year. The outcome of the case is likely to have significant implications for the state’s politics and governance, and it remains to be seen how the court will decide on the matter.

Staff Reporter