West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been served a contempt notice following her public criticism of the Supreme Court's recent judgment in the SSC recruitment scam case. The notice, dated April 10, was issued by advocate Siddharth Dutta on behalf of the NGO Aatmdeep. The development follows the Supreme Court’s April 3 ruling that upheld the Calcutta High Court’s decision to cancel nearly 26,000 illegal appointments made during the state’s School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment — a case widely known as the "SSC Job Scam."
Public defiance of Supreme Court order
The notice accused Banerjee of making statements that directly undermine the authority of the apex court during a public address on April 8. In her remarks, the Chief Minister challenged the termination of 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."
Banerjee also alleged a conspiracy behind the court’s decision, claiming it was aimed at "destroying the education system" and branding qualified teachers as "thieves" and "ineligible."
Allegations of undermining Judiciary
The notice stated that Banerjee's statements amount to a "wilful, designed and well-thought attack" on the Supreme Court’s authority and are in "clear contempt" of the judicial process. It accuses her of encouraging non-compliance with the top court’s ruling and attempting to sway public opinion against the judgment.
Demands and legal consequences
The legal notice demands that Banerjee:
- Direct state authorities to fully comply with the Supreme Court’s April 3 judgment.
- Refrain from making any further public statements suggesting non-compliance.
- Issue an unconditional public apology to the Supreme Court.
Failure to comply, the notice warns, could result in legal action and contempt proceedings under Article 129 of the Constitution and the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
This development adds a new legal dimension to the ongoing political and administrative fallout from the SSC recruitment scam, placing the state government under renewed scrutiny.
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