kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Kolkata, May 28, 2025 — The response to the Supreme Court's annulment of over 24,000 school job appointments due to irregularities in the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment process, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a comprehensive recruitment initiative to fill 44,203 teaching and non-teaching positions across state-run schools. 

This move comes after the Supreme Court upheld a Calcutta High Court decision that invalidated 25,753 appointments made through the WBSSC, citing systemic fraud and manipulation in the recruitment process. The court mandated the state to complete a fresh recruitment process by December 31, 2025, with the advertisement for new positions to be published by May 31.  

Banerjee stated that the state government would issue the recruitment notification by May 31, as directed by the court. The new recruitment drive will encompass the 24,203 positions vacated due to the court's decision and an additional 20,000 newly created posts to strengthen the educational infrastructure. 

To accommodate those affected by the annulled appointments, the Chief Minister announced that candidates who previously held these positions would be eligible to apply for the new vacancies. She assured that their prior experience would be considered, and age relaxation would be granted to ensure they are not disadvantaged in the recruitment process. 

Despite these concessions, many of the dismissed teachers have expressed dissatisfaction with the requirement to retake the recruitment examination. They argue that having already served in their roles for several years, they should not be compelled to requalify for their positions. Some have likened this mandate to a "death penalty" for their careers and are seeking further discussions with the government to explore alternative solutions.  

Banerjee emphasized the importance of complying with the Supreme Court's directives, noting that failure to adhere to the stipulated timeline could jeopardize the state's review petition seeking reinstatement of the annulled appointments. She urged all affected individuals to participate in the forthcoming examination to secure their positions, stating, "Not taking the exam won't work... This is not our directive; it's the SC order."  

The recruitment process is set to commence with the publication of the notification on May 30. Online applications will be accepted from June 16 to July 14, with the final panel of selected candidates to be released on November 15. Counseling sessions are scheduled to begin on November 20, ensuring the entire process concludes by the court-mandated deadline of December 31. 

This large-scale recruitment drive represents the West Bengal government's commitment to restoring integrity in the education sector and addressing the staffing shortages in state-run schools. By balancing compliance with judicial mandates and consideration for affected employees, the initiative aims to rebuild trust in the state's recruitment processes and ensure quality education for students across the region.