Kolkata, 12 May (H.S.) –

The West Bengal government and the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) are facing renewed legal pressure as the deadline set by the Supreme Court to initiate a fresh recruitment process for teaching and non-teaching positions in state-run schools draws near. Failure to comply may result in contempt proceedings.

On April 3, 2025, a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar upheld a Calcutta High Court order that had cancelled 25,753 teaching and non-teaching appointments in secondary and higher secondary schools. The apex court directed WBSSC to issue a fresh recruitment advertisement by May 31 and complete the entire recruitment process by December 31, 2025.

With just 19 days left before the court-mandated deadline, sources indicate that the WBSSC has yet to receive final confirmation from the state education department regarding the exact number of vacancies to be filled. Legal experts warn that any further delay in initiating the recruitment process could be construed as defiance of the Supreme Court’s directive, potentially leading to contempt of court proceedings against the Commission.

The Supreme Court’s ruling had noted that the state government and the WBSSC failed to distinguish between tainted and untainted candidates, leading to the annulment of the entire recruitment list. The judgment was based on findings from a Calcutta High Court division bench comprising Justices Debangsu Basak and Shabbar Rashidi.

While the education department maintains that procedural preparations are underway to comply with the top court’s order, the lack of visible progress has sparked concerns among job aspirants and legal observers alike.

Both the state government and the WBSSC have already filed review petitions against the Supreme Court’s verdict. However, the original directive to begin the recruitment process by the end of May remains binding unless stayed or modified by the court.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh