High Court Delays Hearing on SSC Teacher Recruitment Dispute Amid Rising Controversy and Courtroom Drama

Agencies, Kolkata, 13 November 2025 : The legal battle over the controversial teacher recruitment process in West Bengal has intensified, with the Calcutta High Court deciding to delay further proceedings in a case challenging the School Service Commission (SSC)’s decision to allot additional marks for teaching experience in the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth-grade recruitment exams. The case, which has sparked significant legal and public debate, was further complicated when it was revealed that supporters of some candidates had been mobilized to apply pressure on the court.

The controversy began after the SSC announced its results, awarding 10 additional marks to candidates based on their teaching experience. This decision was quickly contested in the High Court, leading to a petition being filed against it. In an earlier interim ruling, Justice Amrita Sinha had emphasized that the fate of the candidates would depend on the outcome of this case. However, during Wednesday’s hearing, the judge refrained from issuing any orders as the matter is now pending in the Supreme Court, which is set to hear the case on November 26. As a result, Justice Sinha decided to suspend further proceedings in the High Court until the Supreme Court’s ruling is delivered.

In the meantime, Justice Sinha allowed petitioners to submit affidavits outlining their positions, and a further hearing has been scheduled for November 28. This development suggests that the legal complexities surrounding the case are likely to increase as the matter progresses through both the High Court and the Supreme Court.

A dramatic moment unfolded in the courtroom during the proceedings when senior lawyer Bikashranjan Bhattacharya presented a WhatsApp message on his mobile phone. The message reportedly directed supporters to gather in the courtroom and create pressure on the judiciary by showing up in large numbers. The message implied that the gathering would exert influence on the court’s decision-making process. In response, Justice Sinha sharply remarked, "Is this how pressure can be applied on the court?" He then advised the curious petitioners in the courtroom to watch the live broadcast of the proceedings, which are streamed continuously from the court, to satisfy their curiosity rather than disrupting the proceedings.

The ongoing case now involves multiple layers of controversy, with candidates and lawyers disputing the SSC’s process for teacher recruitment. In addition to the current case concerning the 10 additional marks for teaching experience, two more cases related to the SSC teacher recruitment process are being heard in the High Court. One case pertains to discrepancies in the answer sheets, while the other challenges the SSC’s decision not to allow candidates to update their caste certificates. Both of these cases are scheduled for hearing later this week.

With these legal issues piling up, the recruitment process for teachers in the state remains mired in uncertainty, and the outcome of these cases is expected to have significant implications for both candidates and educational authorities in West Bengal.