New Delhi, Jul 13 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the claims of over 350 teaching and non-teaching staff who sought recognition of their appointments in various madrasas in West Bengal after the West Bengal Madrasah Service Commission Act, 2008, was declared unconstitutional by a single judge, a decision later upheld by a division bench of the Calcutta High Court.
The petitioners contended that they had been regularly appointed and were therefore entitled to salaries under the West Bengal government's Grants-in-Aid Scheme.
A Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and A G Masih dismissed the writ petitions, holding that they were devoid of merit.
More than 40 writ petitions were filed by 361 petitioners claiming to have been appointed as teaching and non-teaching staff in various madrasahs across West Bengal after the West Bengal Madrasah Service Commission Act, 2008, was declared unconstitutional by the High Court.
However, the Supreme Court stayed the Division Bench judgment in March 2016. On January 6, 2020, in Sk. Md. Rafique v. Managing Committee, Contai Rahamania High Madrasah, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the 2008 Act.
The apex court said today that the particulars of 13 petitioners, out of more than 350, were screened and placed before the Court pursuant to its earlier order. It was observed that the claims of the remaining petitioners would be examined if even one of the 13 petitioners succeeded in persuading the Court. However, as none of the 13 petitioners was able to do so, all the writ petitions were held to be without merit and were dismissed.
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