Qalam Times News Network | Kolkata | September 20, 2025
Synopsis:Stipend for terminated employees of Group C and D remains suspended as Calcutta High Court extends its interim order until January 30, questioning the state’s decision.
Stipend Decision Under Suspension
The much-debated stipend for terminated employees of Group C and Group D remains suspended after the Calcutta High Court extended its interim order. Justice Amrita Sinha announced on Friday that the suspension would continue until January 30, effectively delaying the disbursal of financial aid by another four months and ten days.
In May, the West Bengal government had announced that Group C employees, whose jobs were terminated, would receive ₹25,000 per month, while Group D employees would get ₹20,000. However, this stipend for terminated employees was immediately challenged in court, leading to an interim stay in June for three months. With the latest extension, the financial relief remains on hold.
Supreme Court’s Earlier Ruling
The controversy stems from the Supreme Court’s decision to cancel nearly 26,000 appointments from the 2016 SSC panel, which included both Group C and D employees. To provide some relief, the state government had proposed monthly stipends. But opponents argued that such a move contradicted the apex court’s ruling and lacked proper justification.
Court Questions the State’s Basis
During earlier hearings, Justice Sinha had raised concerns about the rationale behind fixing the stipend amounts. “Why ₹25,000 and ₹20,000? On what basis were these figures decided?” she questioned, criticizing the state for rushing into the decision without scrutiny after the Supreme Court’s verdict.
The petitioners’ lawyers further argued that the stipend contradicted judicial directives and undermined the sanctity of the Supreme Court’s judgment. The Advocate General, Kishore Dutta, countered by questioning the maintainability of the petition, but the court upheld the plea’s admissibility.
Until January 30, the state government cannot proceed with its stipend plan, leaving thousands of terminated employees without financial aid. With livelihoods already disrupted, the prolonged suspension of the stipend for terminated employees has deepened the uncertainty for the affected workers.
