Kolkata, May 29 (IANS) The new and the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, on Friday announced the state government’s decision to clear hurdles for the commencement of a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities in the recruitment of teachers in Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA)-run schools in the Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong regions in the northern zone of West Bengal.

Although the Calcutta High Court had earlier directed a CBI probe into the matter, the previous state government led by Adhikari’s predecessor, Mamata Banerjee, approached the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s order.

On Friday, CM Adhikari announced the state government’s decision to withdraw the case from the apex court, which would automatically clear the way for the central investigating agency to initiate a probe into the matter.

“More than 400 teachers were appointed illegally in the GTA-run schools. There was a case in the Calcutta High Court, which gave clearance for a CBI investigation in the matter. The previous state government then approached the Supreme Court and obtained a stay order on this case. But now the state government will come out of this case. I have already given an instruction to the Chief Secretary on this count. So, the hurdle for a CBI probe in the matter will be removed,” the Chief Minister told mediapersons on Friday.

To recall, the name of former West Bengal Education Minister and former Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee, who has already spent around three years behind bars in connection with the multi-crore cash-for-school jobs case in West Bengal, was also linked to the controversy over similar teachers’ recruitment irregularities in GTA-run schools.

It was alleged that proper recruitment rules were not followed while appointing teachers in GTA-run schools and that, in many cases, the credentials of the appointed teachers were not verified.

The GTA is currently controlled by the Anit Thapa-founded Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), with Anit Thapa serving as its Chief Executive. The BGPM is the hill ally of the Trinamool Congress.

–IANS

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