HC restores WB teachers jobs
The West Bengal State Government received major relief on Wednesday as a Calcutta High Court Division Bench set aside a 2023 single-Bench order that had cancelled the appointments of 32,000 primary school teachers recruited through the 2014 Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET). The recruitment process had been marred by allegations of large-scale corruption, leading to the arrests of former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, former TET chairman Manik Bhattacharya and several senior officials. Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty’s Bench ruled that while irregularities existed, there was no evidence proving wrongdoing in all appointments, making it unfair to terminate teachers who have served for nine years. The court upheld ongoing CBI and ED investigations, noting that the agencies had identified irregularities in only about 360 cases. Trinamool Congress leaders called the case politically motivated, while the BJP said it would challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court.
Rupee hits historic low
The rupee breached the 90-per-dollar mark for the first time on Wednesday, closing at a record low of 90.15 amid persistent foreign investor outflows and elevated crude oil prices. The currency fell to an intraday low of 90.30 before marginal RBI intervention helped limit losses. Forex traders cited uncertainty over the India-US trade deal, muted RBI resistance, and heavy selling in domestic equities as key pressures. Foreign Institutional Investors offloaded over `3,200 crore in equities, while geopolitical tensions and a cryptocurrency crash boosted safe-haven demand for the dollar.
Mumbai Indians expand to UK
Reliance Industries and Surrey County Cricket Club on Wednesday formally announced their joint ownership of The Hundred franchise, which will be rebranded as MI London from 2026. The partnership — first outlined in July — gives Reliance a 49 per cent stake and Surrey a 51 per cent stake, marking the transfer of ownership from the England and Wales Cricket Board. The team, currently known as the Oval Invincibles, is the most successful in the tournament’s history, with five titles in five years across the men’s and women’s competitions. The move expands the global footprint of Mumbai Indians, Reliance’s flagship franchise, which now owns seven teams across five countries.
