West Bengal schools recruitment scam: Sacked teacher tries to end life after Supreme Court cancels 25,753 jobs from 2016 SSC panel

A schoolteacher from Canning, South 24 Parganas, attempted suicide on Thursday¡ªa day after the Supreme Court scrapped over 25,000 jobs under the 2016 West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment panel. The teacher, namely R Singh, was reportedly under intense financial stress after losing her job and being harassed by creditors. She is currently under treatment at Canning Hospital.

The financial and emotional pressure pushed her to the edge. According to her landlord, who sensed something was wrong, the teacher was found unconscious in her room and was immediately taken to the hospital. A suicide note found nearby reveals the depth of her despair. She apologized to her family and current partner, explaining how the loss of her job had shattered her attempts to rebuild her life.

A verdict with massive fallout

On April 4, the Supreme Court upheld a Calcutta High Court ruling that cancelled the appointment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff made in 2016. The court described the entire selection process as ¡°tainted beyond resolution,¡± stating it had been marred by large-scale manipulation, rank-jumping, and fraudulent appointment letters.

The Supreme Court ruled that all the appointments¡ªeven those not proven to be tainted¡ªwould be declared void due to the extent of irregularities. It ordered a fresh selection process to be conducted. The West Bengal government had appealed the cancellation, but the apex court found no reason to interfere.

What happens to the affected employees?

Teachers gather in Esplanade (Central Kolkata) | Credit: Indiatimes

The court did offer some relief to a few. Disabled candidates who had already been allowed to stay in service by the High Court were permitted to continue, though others in similar situations were denied the same benefit. All terminated candidates, including those not accused of wrongdoing, will be allowed to participate in the fresh recruitment drive with age relaxation.

Some of the sacked employees who previously worked in other government departments will have a chance to return. Their service will not be considered broken if they rejoin, and their seniority and increments will remain intact. However, the emotional and financial trauma of job loss continues to haunt many, who are left with little hope in the meantime.

A process tainted beyond repair

The Supreme Court pointed to WBSSC¡¯s destruction of OMR sheets without saving scanned copies, calling it a clear attempt to hide wrongdoing. It said discrepancies in OMR results and marks, along with the appointment of unlisted candidates, showed deliberate manipulation. The court concluded that the cover-up efforts by the commission only worsened the situation and made fair verification nearly impossible.

A system that failed its people

While the legal system tries to clean up the recruitment scam, thousands of innocent people continue to suffer. A teacher¡¯s suicide attempt is not just a personal case¡ªbut a warning. Behind every cancelled appointment is a human life, one that could be pushed to the edge by a flawed system and a tainted process.