[School Jobs For Cash Scam] “Decide Bail Plea of TMC’s Kuntal Ghosh in 10 Days”: SC Orders Kolkata Special Court

The Supreme Court Today (Oct 1) directed a Kolkata special court to expeditiously dispose of a bail plea of Trinamool Congress (TMC) youth wing leader Kuntal Ghosh in connection with a money-laundering case related to the school jobs for cash scam in West Bengal. Ghosh had moved the top court opposing a fresh hearing of his bail plea by a new judge despite substantial hearings having taken place earlier.

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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court directed a Kolkata special court to expedite the disposal of Trinamool Congress (TMC) youth wing leader Kuntal Ghosh‘s bail plea in connection with a money-laundering case linked to the West Bengal school jobs-for-cash scam.

Ghosh, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in January last year, had approached the Supreme Court challenging a fresh hearing of his bail plea by a new judge, despite significant hearings having already occurred.

A bench consisting of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan heard Ghosh’s plea, seeking a response from the ED, and listed the matter for further hearing on October 17.

Ghosh’s arrest is part of the ongoing investigation into illegal recruitments made to primary and secondary schools during the 2016 recruitment process in West Bengal, overseen by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC). The allegations suggest that recruitments were manipulated, with OMR sheets of candidates being incorrectly evaluated, allowing ineligible candidates to secure jobs in exchange for bribes.

The Supreme Court had earlier, in May, stayed a Calcutta High Court order that had canceled approximately 24,000 jobs provided under the 2016 recruitment process, following complaints of widespread corruption. Over 23 lakh candidates had appeared for these 24,000 vacancies, and the alleged irregularities in the recruitment process have since led to multiple arrests.

Several high-profile figures, including former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee, along with TMC MLAs Manik Bhattacharya and Jiban Krishna Saha, remain behind bars in connection with the scandal. Suspended TMC leaders like Santanu Kundu have also been implicated in the case.

In his petition before the Supreme Court, Ghosh contested the need for a fresh hearing of his bail application by a new judge, arguing that it violated his fundamental right to a speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution. Ghosh contended,

“The transfer of a bail application to another court or judge, after a substantial hearing has already taken place, resulting in the necessity for a de-novo hearing and fresh consideration by the new judge in a case where the trial has even not commenced, constitutes a violation of the fundamental right to a speedy trial.”

The upcoming hearing on October 17 will be crucial in determining the outcome of Ghosh’s plea for bail, as well as the broader implications for others involved in the multi-layered scam.

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