West Bengal school recruitment scam: a massive fraud or a case of little ‘extra salt’?

West Bengal school recruitment scam: Nearly a dozen arrests, 8 FIRs, 9K cases of OMR manipulation. Thousands of job aspirants protest, demanding appointments.

Almost a year after the West Bengal school recruitment scam came to the fore with the recovery of piles of cash and arrest of former State Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, investigation by the Central agencies has left a maze of FIRs and nearly a dozen arrests including that of leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress. 

Firdous Samim, the advocate who is largely credited to unearth the scam by bringing the recruitment irregularities before the Calcutta High Court, takes a few moments to recollect the number of FIRs filed by the Central investigation agencies.

“At least eight FIRs have been filed at various stages of recruitment by the Central agencies. There have been irregularities in the recruitment of teachers at primary, secondary, higher secondary levels and also in the recruitment of Group C and Group D employment in State-run schools,” Mr. Samim said.

 Advocates and political observers who have been following the development in the recruitment scam said it was one of a classic case where the recruitment agencies have gone on record to admit that marks obtained by candidates in the OMR (optical mark reader) sheets have been manipulated.

“About 9,000 cases of OMR manipulation, where marks obtained by the candidates were manipulated have come to the fore,” Mr. Samim added. He described the recruitment scam as a “public education scam” where an elaborate network of touts and agents operated across the State, giving jobs at various levels in the State-run schools in return for money.

Even after the convincing victory in the West Bengal panchayat elections, the burden of scam weighs down heavily on the Trinamool Congress leadership. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee while targeting the Narendra Modi government on the eve of Independence Day could not stop herself from referring to allegations of corruption against her government.

“Only those who work make mistakes. Sometimes while cooking our mothers and sisters also put an extra pinch of salt by mistake,” she said, addressing a meeting of party supporters on August 14.