The Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee has been served a contempt notice over her recent public criticism of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the high-profile SSC recruitment scam case. The notice, dated April 10, was issued by advocate Siddharth Dutta on behalf of the NGO Aatmdeep.
This comes after the apex court’s April 3 decision that upheld the Calcutta High Court’s order canceling nearly 25,000 illegal appointments made through the state’s School Service Commission (SSC). The verdict dealt a significant blow to the state government and triggered widespread political debate.
The notice alleges that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee, during a public address on April 8, made comments that directly defied and undermined the authority of the Supreme Court. In her speech, the Chief Minister questioned the legitimacy of terminating jobs, stating, “Who has the right to take anyone’s job? No one… Our Plan A is ready, B is ready, C is ready, D is ready, and E is ready… You can put me in jail for saying this. But I don’t care.”
She further mentioned that the court’s decision was part of a larger conspiracy aimed at destroying the state’s education system, and accused authorities of portraying qualified teachers as “thieves” and “ineligible.”
The notice describes these remarks as a “wilful, designed and well-thought attack” on the judiciary, accusing Banerjee of encouraging public disobedience and attempting to delegitimize the Supreme Court’s authority.
It demands that the Chief Minister direct all state authorities to fully comply with the April 3 ruling, cease making any statements suggesting non-compliance, and issue a public apology to the Supreme Court. Failure to do so, the notice warns, may result in contempt proceedings under Article 129 of the Constitution and the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. The development adds a fresh legal challenge for the state government amid the ongoing fallout from the SSC scam.
The precursor
Recently, in a major setback for the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, the Supreme Court had upheld the Calcutta High Court’s decision to cancel the appointment of over 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff recruited through the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC). The apex court on the 3rd of April ruled that the entire selection process was “vitiated by manipulation and fraud”, undermining its legitimacy and credibility.
