Calcutta High Court Slams State Government in GTA Recruitment Scam Case

Kolkata, February 11, 2025: The Calcutta High Court expressed strong criticism of the state government’s handling of the GTA (Gorkhaland Territorial Administration) recruitment scam case. Justice Biswajeet Basu, reviewing the CID report, questioned the government’s inaction against the accused despite serious allegations.  

Background:  

In January last year, an anonymous letter alleging recruitment fraud in the GTA was submitted to the Education Department. The letter was also sent to the DIG, CID, and Vigilance Commission. It named several individuals, including Partha Chatterjee, Binay Tamang, Trinamool Chhatra Parishad leader Trinankur Bhattacharya, Jyotipriya Mallick, Habra TMC student leader Bubai Bose, school inspector Pran Gobinda Sarkar, and Prantik Chakraborty, husband of Rajanya Haldar.  

Court’s Reaction:  

During Monday’s hearing, Justice Basu called the anonymous letter "very dangerous" and criticized the state government for not taking action against the accused, even though their names appeared in the FIR. He questioned, "What is the state’s intention? What does the state government want?"  

The state’s lawyers argued that there was no crime in the recruitment process, only procedural errors. The court, however, insisted that those named in the allegations should be interrogated.  

Questions on State’s Role:  

It was revealed that no notices had been issued to the accused despite their names being in the FIR. Justice Basu termed this inaction as "big zero" and directed the CBI’s senior lawyer to be present at the next hearing.  

 Next Steps:  

The next hearing is scheduled for the coming Monday. Justice Basu’s strong remarks and the involvement of the CBI have added significance to the case. The allegations of recruitment scams in both the hills and plains have raised serious questions about the state government’s role.  

Conclusion:  

The Calcutta High Court’s sharp criticism has put the state government in a tough spot. Justice Basu’s remarks and the CBI’s involvement have drawn widespread attention to the case. The developments in the coming days will be closely watched.  

Sani