SC Sets Aside HC Order for CBI Investigation

The State Cabinet in 2022 Decided to Create Supernumerary Posts to Accommodate Waitlisted Candidates in Schools

- Abraham Thomas

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted part relief to the West Bengal government by setting aside a Calcutta high court decision for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into a state cabinet's decision in 2022 to create supernumerary posts for accommodating waitlisted candidates in state-run and aided schools.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, however, stressed that the probe into other aspects related to the appointment of 25,753 teachers and staffers in the state-run and aided schools would continue.

The state, represented by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, pointed out that the Cabinet decision could not be made subject to Central Bureau of Investigation probe when there is no mala fide on part of the state. Sibal even relied on Article 163 to show how the high court erred by ordering investigation.