West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly reassured candidates affected by the recent Supreme Court verdict that invalidated over 25,000 school appointments, vowing to stand firmly by their side.

In a meeting with the dismissed schoolteachers, Banerjee expressed solidarity, stating, “I will not allow any eligible candidate to lose their job in Bengal’s schools. I will do everything in my power to restore their dignity.”

Her remarks come just days after the Supreme Court, in a significant ruling on April 3, cancelled the appointments of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff in state-run and state-aided schools. The court cited large-scale fraud and manipulation in the recruitment process, emphasizing the need to maintain the sanctity of public service appointments—even at the cost of hardship to those who may not have been involved in wrongdoing.

The bench, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, noted that the extent of irregularities in the selection process made it impossible to separate the tainted from the genuine, thereby necessitating a blanket annulment.

In a bold statement underscoring her commitment, Banerjee declared, “If standing with these candidates means I have to go to jail, I am ready for it.”

While acknowledging that the government is bound by the Supreme Court’s decision, the Chief Minister affirmed that her administration is exploring all possible avenues to support the eligible candidates and avoid disruption to their careers.

She also addressed allegations linking her to the scam, saying, “My name is being dragged into something I had no knowledge of.”

Banerjee emphasized that the state government is working on plans to ensure that deserving candidates do not suffer job loss or service interruption, promising a response that is both fair and compassionate.