What Questions Did the Calcutta HC Raise on the WBSSC's New Recruitment Notification?
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Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court has raised pressing questions about the West Bengal School Service Commission's new recruitment notification. This comes in light of a Supreme Court order that annulled thousands of teaching positions. The court's inquiries highlight significant legal concerns surrounding the recruitment process. Read more to understand the implications.
Key Takeaways
- The Calcutta High Court raised important questions about the WBSSC's recruitment criteria.
- 25,753 teaching and non-teaching posts were cancelled due to legal discrepancies.
- New weightage criteria have been introduced, altering the original recruitment framework.
- Transparency in recruitment processes is crucial for fairness.
- The Supreme Court's ruling has significant implications for educational hiring practices.
Kolkata, July 1 (NationPress) A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court raised significant queries regarding various aspects of the recruitment notification released by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC). This notification aims to fill the vacancies left by the cancellation of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching positions in state-run schools, as ordered by the Supreme Court.
During the proceedings of a petition contesting the new recruitment notification, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya questioned the reasoning behind the introduction of new “weightage criteria” in the recent notification. The apex court had previously mandated that the procedures for the new recruitment should mirror those established in 2016, which had been entirely annulled.
Another critical observation made by Justice Bhattacharyya was the absence of restrictions on candidates deemed “tainted,” who were allowed to take part in the new recruitment despite the Supreme Court’s explicit directive from April this year.
According to Justice Bhattacharyya, the notification ought to clearly state that identified “tainted” individuals would be disqualified from the upcoming recruitment process.
Moreover, Justice Bhattacharyya sought explanations from both the West Bengal government and the WBSSC regarding these two issues.
The new notification, issued in May, specifies that the written examination for the recruitment will now comprise 60 marks, an increase from 55 marks allocated for the 2016 panel.
Additionally, the weightage for educational qualifications in this fresh recruitment is only 10 marks, compared to 35 marks for the previous panel.
Notably, two new weightage criteria have been introduced in the recruitment process, each worth 10 marks: 'past teaching experience' and 'lecture demonstration'.
Following the notification's release, several legal experts anticipated potential legal challenges due to the modifications in the weightage criteria affecting the total marks.
Last month, a petition was submitted to the Calcutta High Court contesting the notification primarily on these two grounds, which Justice Bhattacharya addressed on Tuesday.
On April 3, the Supreme Court’s division bench, comprising former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, upheld a prior decision by the Calcutta High Court, which annulled 25,753 school jobs in West Bengal.
The apex court also acknowledged the Calcutta High Court's observation that the complete panel of 25,753 candidates needed to be cancelled due to the state government and commission's failure to distinguish between “untainted” and “tainted” candidates.
Both the state government and WBSSC have already submitted review petitions to the apex court concerning this matter.
Point of View
We firmly believe that transparency and adherence to legal standards are paramount in recruitment processes, especially in the education sector. The inquiries raised by the Calcutta High Court serve as a crucial reminder of the necessity for fairness and due diligence in hiring practices. We stand with the principles of justice and accountability in this matter, ensuring that all candidates have an equal opportunity.
NationPress
01/07/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the Calcutta High Court's scrutiny of the WBSSC recruitment notification?
The court questioned the introduction of new weightage criteria and the participation of 'tainted' candidates despite Supreme Court directives.
How many positions were annulled by the Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court annulled 25,753 teaching and non-teaching positions due to procedural discrepancies.
What changes were made in the new recruitment notification?
The new notification increased the written exam marks and introduced new weightage criteria for teaching experience and lecture demonstration.
What is the significance of the Supreme Court's ruling?
The ruling emphasizes the need for a transparent and fair recruitment process in state-run educational institutions.
What actions have been taken by the WBSSC and state government?
They have filed review petitions with the Supreme Court regarding the annulled positions and the recruitment process.
