The Calcutta High Court, in a decisive move, has announced the formation of a special bench to expedite the adjudication of all cases related to the West Bengal school jobs scam. This development follows the directive from the Supreme Court, emphasizing the urgency and significance of the matter.
Justices Debangsu Basak and Shabbar Rashidi have been appointed to the special bench, which will now oversee the proceedings of the alleged multi-crore cash-for-school-job scam in West Bengal. The announcement of this special bench was made a day after an appeal for its formation was presented to the division bench of the Calcutta High Court, comprising Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya.
Responding to the appeal, Chief Justice Sivagnanam had assured swift action, leading to the prompt establishment of the special bench. This move is a direct response to the Supreme Court’s division bench, led by Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M. Trivedi, which had recently transferred all cases related to the scam back to the Calcutta High Court on November 10.
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The Supreme Court’s intervention not only facilitated the formation of the special bench but also set a stringent timeline for the resolution of these cases. The apex court has directed that all hearings related to the scam be concluded within the next six months. Additionally, it has mandated central agencies involved in the investigation, such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED), to complete their inquiries within the next couple of months.
This timeline puts significant pressure on the central agencies to expedite their investigative processes. The urgency of the matter is further underscored by the Calcutta High Court’s previous directive to the ED, instructing them to complete their investigation into the school job cases by December 31.
The establishment of the special bench and the directives from the Supreme Court are critical steps in addressing the West Bengal school jobs scam. This scam has attracted widespread attention, stirring political and legal circles. The formation of the special bench is seen as a pivotal move in ensuring a focused and expedited judicial process, aiming to bring clarity and justice to a case that has significant implications for governance and public trust in West Bengal.
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