The Supreme Court has put an end to a long-standing legal battle over the appointment of Shiksha Karmis in Madhya Pradesh, rejecting allegations of bias and overturning the High Court’s decision that had canceled their selection. A three-judge bench ruled that the claims of undue influence were not substantiated, allowing the teachers to retain their positions after more than two decades of service.
The case had reached the Supreme Court following a split verdict. One judge upheld the High Court’s ruling that had voided the appointments due to alleged conflicts of interest, while another judge took the opposite stance. The matter was then referred to a larger bench, which ultimately ruled in favor of the appellants.
The controversy stemmed from claims that some of the appointed Shiksha Karmis were related to members of the selection committee. However, the Supreme Court observed that these committee members had recused themselves from the interview process, thereby negating any reasonable inference of bias. The court emphasized that mere suspicion is insufficient to overturn a selection process unless a real likelihood of bias can be demonstrated.
Additionally, the court noted that the affected candidates were not given a fair opportunity to contest the allegations at the initial stage, violating fundamental procedural fairness. Citing legal precedents, the bench reiterated that natural justice principles must be upheld unless statutory provisions expressly override them.
Crucially, the court refused to remand the matter for further review, acknowledging that the appellants had already served in their roles for 25 years. It concluded that the High Court’s decision to cancel the appointments was flawed and reinstated the teachers, marking the end of a decades-long legal ordeal.