Latest news with #ParthaChatterjee
News18
17-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Another Lathi-Charge, Another Blow To Bengal's Broken Education System
Last Updated: The SSC recruitment scam is not merely about unemployed candidates being denied jobs. It is a reflection of how education in Bengal has been reduced to a cadre-parking scheme The chaos outside Bikash Bhavan in Kolkata — that unfolded dramatically on Thursday night as police baton-charged protesting teachers or the SSC candidates who lost jobs after the Supreme Court ruling — marks the second such crackdown since 21 April. The images are disturbing but not surprising. For those who have never lived in West Bengal, here is the context. The education system in the state has long ceased to be a sacred institution. And the scholarly society of Bengal, which once took immense pride in its literacy structure, has become a silent spectator. What remains today is a carcass, propped up by political patronage, bureaucratic apathy, and a den of deep-rooted corruption. The SSC recruitment scam is not merely about unemployed candidates being denied jobs or losing jobs. It is a reflection of how education in Bengal has been reduced to a cadre-parking scheme. The state's once-proud intellectual infrastructure has been hollowed out to make space for political foot soldiers, loyalists, and at times sycophants. This is not just hyperbole — it is reality. Former education minister Partha Chatterjee is currently behind bars, after central agencies seized mountains of cash and 'incriminating' documents allegedly linking him to illegal appointments. The stink of the scam reaches every level of the recruitment process, from school clerks to assistant teachers. The list of successful candidates included hundreds of relatives, friends, and acquaintances of politicians and people related to the Trinamool Congress, Bengal's ruling party. Even now, Mamata Banerjee's government has failed to establish a credible process to distinguish between legitimate candidates and those who paid bribes for jobs. Instead, the response has been to delay, deflect, and occasionally resort to force — including statements dishonouring the court's judgment. For the protesting candidates, many of whom have valid recommendation letters, this isn't just about employment. It is also about dignity, justice, and the right to be heard. When lathi-charges replace answers, governance has already failed. THE RED HAMMER But to be fair, this rot did not start yesterday. Mamata Banerjee or her party, the Trinamool Congress, are not the only ones responsible for such a degeneration of generations in the state. The politicisation of education in Bengal has deep roots — going as far back as the Left Front era. It was during this time that institutions like Calcutta University saw the first wave of ideological infiltration, along with the cadre-policy. References to 'Red hammers" weren't just metaphors. College and university campuses turned into strongholds of Marxist dominance. Merit took a back seat, while political affiliation became currency. The red hammer of Alimuddin Street (the CPM's headquarters in Kolkata) had hit not only Calcutta University — as portrayed so vividly by the late Professor Santosh Bhattacharyya in his book Red Hammer over Calcutta University — but had almost taken over the entire education system. The ABTA (All Bengal Teachers' Association), an affiliated body of the Left for teachers, captured control of the teacher recruitment system. However, money or corruption was not an overt part of such control; it was instead about ideological supremacy and the consolidation of power. Several infamous CPM leaders, accused of intimidation, crime or political violence, had been teachers. Many of them were headmasters of schools or principals of colleges. What Mamata Banerjee's government did was take that foundation and add a corrosive new layer — open corruption. If the Left hijacked ideology — communism and socialism — to build its campus base, the Trinamool Congress monetised it. The problem isn't only about ideology now — it is primarily about a decayed system that has become both politicised and profit-driven. This isn't just an education crisis. It is a civilisational one. Bengal once prided itself on its thinkers, educators, and reformers. Today, it is known for a series of paper leaks, lathi-charges, a rigged recruitment system, and scam-tainted ministers. Unless there is political will to clean up this mess, Bikash Bhavan (the state's education department) will see more such protests — and Bengal will continue to bleed its brightest minds. First Published: May 17, 2025, 09:28 IST
India Gazette
08-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Supreme Court directs West Bengal to allow prosecution of TMC-leader Partha Chatterjee, others accused in Cash-for-jobs scam
ANI 08 May 2025, 15:44 GMT+10 New Delhi [India], May 8 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the West Bengal government to grant sanction for prosecuting TMC-leader Partha Chatterjee and other persons accused in the cash-for-jobs scam in the State. A bench led by Justice Surya Kant also stated that the instant bail plea filed by Chatterjee be tagged along with other such pleas to be heard together on July 17, this year. 'It is further directed that any other SLP filed against impugned order of 20th November 2024 of the High Court of Calcutta also be tagged along with the instant case', the Court noted in its order. The Court was hearing bail plea filed by Partha Chatterjee who is booked by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the scam where around 26,000 teachers and other school staff were recruited by the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC). The entire recruitment was later held illegal by the Calcutta High Court and subsequently the High Courts' decision was also upheld by the Supreme Court which had termed the recruitment as 'tainted'and based on 'large-scale fraud'. In July 2022, the ED arrested Chatterjee, the former West Bengal Education Minister and TMC leader. Chatterjee was previously lodged at the Presidency Correctional Home in May this year. The Enforcement Directorate had earlier recovered over Rs 21 crore in cash from the house of an associate of Chatterjee. TMC had suspended Chatterjee, from the party after his arrest. (ANI)
United News of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
SC tags Partha Chatterjee's bail plea with co-accused in West Bengal's cash-for-jobs scam
New Delhi, May 8 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday tagged the bail application of former West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, Partha Chatterjee, with a pending matter involving a co-accused in the high-profile multi-crore West Bengal's cash-for-jobs scam, while scheduling the next hearing for July 17. Appearing for Chatterjee, the counsel submitted that the trial had stalled and opposed the separation of his client's proceedings from those of the co-accused. 'He is bedridden and cannot even walk,' the lawyer argued, emphasising Chatterjee's deteriorating health condition. However, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S V Raju strongly opposed the plea, stating, 'He was a minister, this is a serious case. He is neck-deep in corruption. Genuine candidates were denied jobs while only those who paid were recruited.' He further said that a hospital was favouring high-profile accused and that the former minister was medically fit. The bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sanjiv Khanna, questioned the delay in listing the bail matter, asking, 'Why is the bail matter posted for July?' The ASG replied by citing the involvement of multiple co-accused and the gravity of the charges, including misuse of official position and corruption. The court noted that a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by a co-accused against the same Calcutta High Court orders dated November 20 and December 24, 2023, was already scheduled for July 2025. Consequently, the apex court directed that Chatterjee's petition be tagged with the existing matter and heard jointly on July 17, 2025. In a significant procedural directive, the bench also ordered the Chief Secretary of West Bengal to take a decision on sanctioning prosecution against the co-accused within two weeks, emphasising that neither the State nor the co-accused were parties before the Court at this stage. 'We have not expressed any opinion on merits but directed the needful to ensure the facilitation of trial,' the court observed. During the hearing, Justice Khanna expressed concern over inconsistent and verbose rulings in bail matters from the High Courts. 'In bail matters, High Courts are writing lengthy judgments and delivering divergent views? What is happening, Mr Raju?' he questioned. To avoid multiplicity of proceedings, the bench also directed the Supreme Court Registry to tag any future SLPs filed against the same High Court orders with the present case. The cash-for-jobs scam continues to draw national attention due to its political ramifications, with multiple leaders and bureaucrats under investigation for alleged recruitment irregularities in West Bengal's public sector hiring process. UNI SNG SS
Business Upturn
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Upturn
Supreme Court directs West Bengal govt to decide on prosecution sanction in cash-for-jobs scam; Partha Chatterjee bail plea deferred to July 17
The Supreme Court on Thursday (May 8) directed the West Bengal government to take a decision within two weeks regarding sanctioning the prosecution of co-accused in the State's high-profile school recruitment scam case, in which former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee is a key accused. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh passed the order while adjourning Chatterjee's bail plea in the CBI case filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PC Act). The apex court said his plea will now be heard on July 17, tagged with similar petitions filed by other accused in the case. 'Meanwhile, in order to facilitate trial, the State of West Bengal is directed to take a decision regarding granting sanction in the cases of the petitioner's co-accused within 2 weeks,' the bench ordered. During the hearing, Chatterjee's counsel submitted that while sanction to prosecute Chatterjee had already been granted, the trial had stalled due to pending sanctions for other accused. He argued that separating the trial for one accused from others was not feasible. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the CBI, supported the tagging of bail pleas and said the state's delay in granting sanctions was holding up proceedings. In a report by Live Law, it was noted that the court showed concern over the Calcutta High Court's split verdict earlier on the bail pleas of Chatterjee and others. Justice Kant remarked, 'We have reached a stage where in bail matters there are dissenting opinions… What is happening?' ASG Raju further alleged during the hearing that Chatterjee was 'neck-deep in corruption' and was 'faking his health condition' to seek relief. Chatterjee's lawyers claimed he was bedridden. In December 2024, the Supreme Court had granted him bail in the connected money laundering case filed under the PMLA, effective February 1, 2025. However, his custody continues in the CBI's corruption case. The case stems from a large-scale recruitment scam under the West Bengal Board of Primary Education, in which multiple senior officials and former Minister Partha Chatterjee were arrested in 2022. They are accused of soliciting bribes in exchange for appointments in the State's education department. The accused moved the Calcutta High Court for bail, but in November 2024, a division bench gave a split verdict. One judge granted bail to all, while the other denied it to Chatterjee and four others. A single judge later denied bail to them.
