Bengal School Job Case: How Did 269 ‘Tainted’ Teachers Qualify for Interviews?
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Synopsis
In a startling development, the WBSSC has flagged 269 teachers as ‘tainted’ who qualified for interviews in the recent recruitment. A Supreme Court ruling had previously barred these individuals from participating. This raises questions about the integrity of the recruitment process and the criteria for teacher eligibility. Stay tuned for updates on this evolving story.
Key Takeaways
- 269 ‘tainted’ teachers identified by WBSSC.
- Supreme Court ruling invalidated 2016 WBSSC panel.
- New weightage criterion allows for prior experience marks.
- Concerns raised over recruitment integrity.
- Next hearing scheduled for December 1.
Kolkata, Nov 29 (NationPress) The West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) has pinpointed 269 individuals deemed “tainted” from its 2016 panel, who not only took part in the recent primary teacher recruitment process but also succeeded in qualifying for the interview.
Earlier this year, a division bench of the Supreme Court invalidated the entire 2016 WBSSC panel, prohibiting the participation of “tainted” teachers who had been proven to secure teaching positions in government schools through illicit payments in the fresh recruitment.
Recently, a petition was lodged at the Calcutta High Court, claiming that several “tainted” teachers not only engaged in the written examination for the fresh recruitment of higher secondary teachers in September but also proceeded to qualify for the interview.
According to sources from WBSSC, these “tainted” teachers benefited from a new weightage criterion, which awards 10 marks for prior teaching experience.
The commission subsequently assessed the backgrounds of those who qualified for the interview and identified 269 individuals from the 2016 panel.
The candidature of these 269 “tainted” teachers was denied for the current recruitment.
However, WBSSC sources indicated that this list is not definitive, and if more “tainted” teachers are discovered to have qualified for interviews in the future, their candidatures would also be annulled.
During a hearing on the petition, the Calcutta High Court's Justice Amrita Sinha questioned how WBSSC determined the eligibility of “untainted” teachers from the 2016 panel for the current recruitment.
Justice Sinha raised critical points regarding the criteria used to assess which candidates qualify for the 10-mark weightage based on past teaching experience.
She noted concerns that several eligible candidates might have been excluded from the fresh recruitment due to the newly implemented rules.
Nevertheless, her bench refrained from issuing any explicit directives on the matter.
The next hearing is scheduled for December 1, when the state government and WBSSC counsels will present their arguments.
Point of View
It’s crucial to address the integrity of recruitment processes in educational institutions. The identification of ‘tainted’ teachers raises significant concerns about transparency and fairness. The WBSSC's actions must be scrutinized to ensure that genuine candidates are not unfairly excluded, maintaining trust in the educational system. It’s essential for all stakeholders to engage constructively in resolving these issues.
NationPress
29/11/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ‘tainted’ mean in the context of the WBSSC?
In this context, ‘tainted’ refers to teachers who have been proven to have gained their positions through corrupt practices, such as bribery.
What action did the Supreme Court take regarding the WBSSC panel?
The Supreme Court annulled the entire 2016 WBSSC panel and barred ‘tainted’ teachers from participating in future recruitment processes.
How did some ‘tainted’ teachers qualify for the interviews?
They managed to qualify for interviews by benefiting from a new weightage criterion that awards additional marks for previous teaching experience.
What is the significance of the upcoming hearing on December 1?
The hearing will address the eligibility criteria for candidates in the current recruitment process and the concerns raised about potential exclusions.
