West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday launched a strong critique of alleged recruitment scams under the previous All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, stating that such irregularities have significantly tarnished the state’s reputation across India.

Addressing a Rozgar Mela (employment fair) held at Sealdah, he asserted that his administration is focused on restoring transparency and rebuilding trust in the recruitment process.

Referring to judicial actions, Adhikari highlighted the role of the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court of India in addressing recruitment-related irregularities.

“From teacher recruitment scams to municipal irregularities… the past few years have caused immense damage to the state,” he said, citing the cancellation of nearly 26,000 jobs from the 2016 recruitment panel.

Decline in credibility of exam centres

The Chief Minister pointed out that the credibility of examination centres in West Bengal had eroded to such an extent that major railway zones—including Eastern, South Eastern, and North Frontier Railways—shifted their recruitment exams outside the state.

“Candidates from Bengal had to travel to Odisha, Assam, and Bihar. We must bring back that lost trust,” he added.

The Rozgar Mela, organised under an initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was deliberately conducted in a public manner, Adhikari said, to promote transparency.

“This could have been done quietly, but doing it openly sends a message. Those who corrupted the system should take this as an opportunity to reform,” he remarked.

Impact on youth and families

Addressing the concerns of job aspirants, Adhikari noted that repeated controversies have shaken public confidence in government recruitment.

“Parents invest in their children’s education with hopes of stable employment. That hope has been repeatedly broken,” he said, while assuring that the Central Government is supporting efforts to ensure fair opportunities.

Proposing reforms, the Chief Minister stressed the need for transparency in OMR-based examinations. He suggested that candidates should be provided with carbon copies of their answer sheets.

“Retaining OMR sheets entirely within the system is a flawed practice,” he stated.

Background: recruitment controversies in Bengal

West Bengal has faced sustained controversy over recruitment processes, especially in the education sector. In April last year, the Supreme Court cancelled the appointments of around 26,000 teachers and non-teaching staff from the 2016 panel, citing large-scale irregularities.

The entire Group C and D panels were also scrapped, prompting fresh examinations by the School Service Commission in compliance with court directives. Allegations of corruption have also emerged in primary education and municipal recruitment.

Reiterating his government’s priorities, Adhikari said the focus remains on building a fair, transparent, and corruption-free recruitment system.

“Our goal is to restore confidence among job seekers and ensure that merit prevails,” he concluded.

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