West Bengal teachers’ recruitment: In a significant development, the Calcutta High Court declared the State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) recruitment process for West Bengal government-sponsored and aided schools null and void on Monday.
As many as 25,753 individuals appointed as teachers are set to lose their jobs and will have to return the salaries they have withdrawn since joining with a 12 percent interest, according to the order.
The court’s ruling mandated the cancellation of all appointments made through the SLST-2016, marking a significant setback for the state’s education system.
A division bench comprising justices Debangsu Basak and Md Shabbar Rashidi not only nullified the recruitment process but also directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct further investigation into the appointment process.
The CBI has been instructed to submit a report on its findings within three months. Additionally, the West Bengal School Service Commission has been directed to initiate a fresh appointment process.
The SLST-2016 witnessed participation from over 23 lakh candidates vying for 24,640 vacant posts. A staggering 25,753 appointment letters were issued, raising suspicions of irregularities in the selection process.
Firdaus Shamim, a lawyer representing some of the petitioners, confirmed the issuance of appointment letters surpassing the number of vacancies, highlighting the flawed nature of the recruitment process.
Following the court’s ruling, hundreds of school job aspirants gathered outside the premises of the Calcutta High Court, expressing a mixture of relief and joy. Many had endured years of uncertainty and struggle, making the court’s decision a moment of validation for their perseverance.
The division bench, constituted by the Chief Justice of the high court under the directive of the Supreme Court, meticulously examined numerous petitions and appeals related to the SLST-2016 recruitment process. The hearings, which concluded on March 20, culminated in the bench reserving judgment on the matter.
The court’s intervention stemmed from writ petitions filed by candidates who participated in SLST-2016 but were unsuccessful in securing employment. A single bench, presided over by Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay, had initially ordered a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in the recruitment process.
The high court’s order also led to the termination of several teaching and non-teaching positions found to be associated with irregularities. The culmination of the legal proceedings underscores the judiciary’s commitment to upholding integrity and transparency in recruitment processes, particularly in critical sectors such as education.
The Supreme Court’s directive to expedite the adjudication of disputes related to SLST-2016 further underscored the significance of the matter. The completion of the CBI investigation and subsequent arrests, including that of former state education minister Partha Chatterjee, signal a concerted effort to address allegations of malpractice and restore public trust in the education system.
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