Supreme Court Grants Interim Relief to 'Untainted' Teachers Amid Recruitment Controversy: Fresh WBSSC Hiring Process Set to Begin

Baby Chakraborty | KalimNews | April 17, 2025 | Kolkata : In a pivotal ruling amid the ongoing controversy over the 2016 recruitment by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC), the Supreme Court has granted interim relief to assistant teachers deemed “untainted,” allowing them to continue teaching until the end of 2025. This temporary reprieve comes as the court orders the state government to launch a fresh recruitment drive by May 31, with a deadline for completion by December 31, 2025.

The bench, consisting of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, clarified that the relief applies exclusively to assistant teachers for Classes IX-X and XI-XII. 

In contrast, the recruitment for Group C and Group D staff was severely tainted by large-scale irregularities, which led the court to invalidate the entire process.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had upheld the Calcutta High Court's decision to annul over 25,000 appointments across teaching and non-teaching roles in government-aided and state-sponsored schools. The court found the recruitment process fundamentally flawed and marked by manipulation, declaring it “tainted beyond resolution.”

Despite the court's refusal to entertain arguments from the state attempting to override its previous verdict, it allowed a lifeline for untainted assistant teachers to continue their roles. However, the state now faces strict deadlines to initiate a fresh recruitment process, with the court mandating the submission of a recruitment advertisement and schedule by May 31. Non-compliance could result in penalties or even the revocation of the interim relief.

This ruling has sparked a mixed reaction among the affected teachers. While some who lost their jobs after the April 3 verdict are expressing tentative relief, many remain uncertain about their futures and the fairness of the new recruitment process.

One of the affected teachers shared the collective frustration of many, stating, “It feels unjust to be asked to sit for another exam after we’ve already proven our merit. The situation has drastically changed over the years. If we fail this time, does it mean we were incompetent? It's hard not to feel like the system is testing us unfairly.”

Another teacher, questioned why those who were never implicated in any malpractice should be forced into a fresh examination. “If we’ve been teaching based on merit and without fault, why should we have to face another round of testing? What guarantees do we have that this new process won’t be tainted with corruption?”

There’s also growing frustration over being treated as temporary solutions rather than long-term contributors to the education system. “We’ve been dedicated to our roles for years, but now we’re being told that we’re just placeholders. We deserve permanent reinstatement, not just an extension,” said another teacher, reflecting the sentiment of many.

In response to the Supreme Court’s order, teachers are organizing statewide protests. A march is planned for April 21 from Karunamoyee Bus Stand to Acharya Sadan, and another on April 22 from Sealdah to Raj Bhawan to meet with Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose. The protests demand transparency, justice for untainted teachers, and decisive action against those who secured positions through fraudulent means.

While the fate of Group C and D staff remains unchanged, the newly affected teachers, particularly the untainted ones, continue to call for clarity and justice, hoping for an end to the prolonged saga that has dramatically altered their careers and lives.