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The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed petitions filed by around 360 teaching and non-teaching staff of West Bengal madrassas seeking regularisation and benefits under the state's grant-in-aid scheme. After examining 13 representative cases, the court found no merit in their claims and rejected all petitions, upholding the committee's findings that several appointments were invalid.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a batch of petitions filed by about 360 teaching and non-teaching staff of madrassas in West Bengal, challenging the denial of regularisation and payment under the state government’s grant-in-aid scheme.

A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and A G Masih delivered the judgment after examining the cases of 13 petitioners out of more than 350 such employees to see whether any case was made out for grant of relief.

Pronouncing the verdict, the bench said, “We proceeded on the basis that if any one of these 13 petitioners persuaded us to hold in his or her favour, we would examine the remaining cases as well. Unfortunately, none of the 13 petitioners could impress us.” Dismissing all the petitions, the bench said, “Therefore, we have not only rejected the claims of all 13 petitioners whose cases were scrutinised, but have also rejected the claims of all the remaining petitioners. All the writ petitions are devoid of merit and are accordingly dismissed.” About 360 teaching and non-teaching staff employed in different madrassas of West Bengal filed around 48 petitions before the top court.

The dispute relates to the West Bengal Madrasah Service Commission Act, 2008, which created a statutory commission to recommend appointments of teachers in recognised madrassas.