Wed Jul 16 21:33:00 UTC 2025: ## Calcutta High Court Upholds New SSC Recruitment, Leaving “Untainted” Teachers in Limbo

**Kolkata, July 17, 2025** – The Calcutta High Court has dismissed petitions challenging the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC)’s new recruitment notification, leaving “untainted” teachers, who lost their jobs following a Supreme Court ruling, in a precarious position. The ruling by the division bench of Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Smita Das De on Wednesday rejected arguments that the new process disadvantaged experienced educators.

The petitioners, representing teachers who had previously secured positions through the 2016 recruitment process, argued that the new notification unfairly reduces the number of subject-specific seats and implements stricter eligibility criteria, making it harder for them to compete with fresh graduates. Specifically, they cited the exclusion of teachers with special B.Ed. degrees or those with marks between 40-45%, despite having passed the 2016 exams. Furthermore, some subjects in which they previously held positions, such as Chemistry and Nepali, now have no available openings.

“We are losing all faith in the judiciary,” stated Habibullah, a representative of JSSAM (name of organization, or acronym of) expressing concern over the WBSSC’s role in overseeing the rehiring process, given their involvement in the original corrupt recruitment scandal. “What is the guarantee that they will not steal our jobs again?”

The Supreme Court had previously cancelled approximately 26,000 appointments made during the 2016 recruitment process due to widespread irregularities. While allowing “untainted” candidates to remain in service until December 31st or the completion of a fresh selection process, the latest High Court decision has forced many to consider participating in the new recruitment. The only advantage afforded to experienced teachers is a 10-mark bonus.

State lawyer and Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee hailed the verdict as a victory for the state, emphasizing the court’s recognition of the state’s rights in the recruitment process.

The deadline for applications for the new recruitment is July 21st, forcing many teachers to choose between filing or hoping for a Supreme Court review. The future remains uncertain for these educators, who find themselves caught in the fallout of previous corruption scandals.

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