Calcutta High court Questions State’s Decision on Allowances for Jobless Group C and D Workers
The decision by the West Bengal government to provide allowances to jobless Group C and D workers has come under scrutiny from the Calcutta High Court.During a hearing on Monday, Justice Amrita Sinha raised critical questions about the urgency behind this decision, especially in light of a recent Supreme Court ruling. The court sought clarification on how the state could implement such a policy without prior discussion or scrutiny, emphasizing the need for transparency in governance.
The backdrop to this legal challenge is notable. Following the cancellation of approximately 26,000 jobs from the 2016 SSC panel, Group C and D workers joined teachers in protests demanding justice. In response, the state government convened a meeting with educational staff, where Chief Secretary Manoj Pant was present. It was during this meeting that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the allowance for these workers under the West Bengal Livelihood and Social Security Interim Scheme 2025. Though, this decision has sparked legal action, with lawyer Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya questioning the rationale behind using state funds to support workers after their jobs were terminated. In defense, the state’s Advocate General Kishore dutta stated that the funds were allocated from a special budget. The next hearing in this case is scheduled for Thursday, as the implications of the supreme Court’s ruling continue to unfold.
In April, the Supreme Court ruled on the SSC recruitment corruption case, leading to the job losses and granting the state three months to initiate new appointments. This ongoing saga highlights the complexities of governance and the delicate balance between administrative decisions and legal accountability in West Bengal.
