West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been served a contempt notice following her public criticism of a recent Supreme Court verdict related to the SSC recruitment scam case. The notice, dated April 10, 2025, was issued by advocate Siddharth Dutta on behalf of the NGO Aatmdeep.
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Contempt Notice issued to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her comments against the Supreme Court judgement in the SSC scam. pic.twitter.com/qy8IT3sf2e
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This legal move comes in response to the Supreme Court’s April 3 ruling, which upheld the Calcutta High Court’s decision to cancel nearly 26,000 appointments deemed illegal in the recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff across the state — a scandal widely referred to as the “SSC Job Scam.”
According to the notice, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s remarks during a public address on April 8 were in direct defiance of the Supreme Court’s ruling. In her speech, Banerjee openly questioned the authority of the court to terminate jobs and asserted that she had multiple backup plans in place to reinstate those affected. She also urged the dismissed individuals to continue working despite the court’s decision.
She stated, “Who has the right to take away someone’s job? No one. We have Plan A ready, Plan B ready, C, D, and even E ready. You can put me in jail for saying this—I don’t care. Do your work; who’s stopping you? The Supreme Court? Then let it be known, we will pursue whatever alternative we must.”
The Bengal Chief Minister also alleged that the cancellation of the appointments was part of a larger conspiracy aimed at dismantling the education system. In her speech, Banerjee said, “There is a conspiracy underway to destroy and dismantle the education system. Plans are being made. Teachers of Classes 9, 10, 11, and 12 are the gateways to higher education. They prepare students, many of them evaluate exam papers. Some are even gold medalists, individuals who have achieved great academic success. And now, all of them are being branded as thieves, as ineligible. Who has given you the right to say that? I am openly challenging this.”
The legal notice accuses Banerjee of undermining the authority of the Supreme Court, describing her remarks as “a willful, deliberate, and calculated attack and affront on the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.”
In the legal notice, advocate Siddharth Dutta, representing NGO Aatmdeep, has put forward the following demands to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
Direct state authorities to fully implement the Supreme Court’s April 3 judgment.
Cease making any public statements that imply defiance or non-compliance with the ruling.
Offer an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court for her remarks.
The notice warns that failure to meet these demands could result in legal action, including contempt proceedings under Article 129 of the Constitution and the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
