‘Tainted SSC candidates sat for fresh exams, got interview calls’: Two cases filed in Calcutta HC over asst teachers’ recruitment

In April this year, the Supreme Court ordered the termination of jobs of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff in government-aided secondary and higher secondary schools, calling the 2016 recruitment process of the WBSSC “tainted”. After an appeal by the state secondary education board, the court had said “untainted” employees would receive salaries till December, while 1,806 “tainted” teachers were barred from returning to schools.

On Saturday, the WBSSC released a list of over 20,000 candidates shortlisted for interviews for assistant teacher posts at the higher secondary level (classes 11 and 12) in government-aided schools. This was based on the 2025 exam results.

A section of job-seekers has now demanded that the interview list be republished after correcting alleged discrepancies and selecting names strictly according to merit. Shamim said, “Several tainted candidates are seen in the interview list. We also see that primary teachers and Health Department workers got 10 marks for experience. There are several anomalies.”

Meanwhile, state education minister Bratya Basu told mediapersons, “I have spoken to the SSC. They have stated that there are no tainted candidates in the list, but let the cases go on in the High Court.”

In a separate plea filed before the same single bench of Justice Amrita Sinha, another petitioner alleged that while some part-time teachers had been awarded marks based on experience, he had not received any such marks. The petitioner’s counsel Tarunjyoti Tiwari submitted, “The petitioner is a part-time teacher and his colleagues have been given the marks. The petitioner has been deprived.”

Justice Amrita Sinha allowed both petitions to be filed. The matters will be heard on November 19.

Meanwhile, examination candidates held a protest on Monday, attempting to reach Bikash Bhawan in Salt Lake, but they were stopped by the police. Many first-time examinees alleged that they had secured full marks yet had not received interview calls. “Regarding the protest by the fresh candidates demanding an increase in vacancies, I do not want to say anything now, but I have spoken to the Chief Minister regarding this,” said state minister Bratya Basu.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, Aneesh Sarkar said, “We have requested them to hold a peaceful rally as they have not taken any permission. We have requested them to get their deputation team; we will help them reach out to the agencies. We have no problem if they want to give a deputation, but there is BNS 163 enforced around Bikash Bhawan, so not more than five people will be allowed.”

According to the Commission, the interviewees’ list was prepared on the basis of the written test (60 marks), academic scores (10 marks based on postgraduate results), and teaching experience (10 marks), applicable to in-service teachers who appeared for the selection test held on September 14. A senior Commission official said the interview schedule would be announced in due course and document verification for shortlisted candidates is likely to begin on November 18.

The WBSSC declared the results of the Classes 11 and 12 State Level Selection Test (SLST) 2025 on November 7. According to a press release by the Commission, 2,29,606 examinees appeared across 478 venues in 35 subjects. The published list, available on the SSC website, includes each candidate’s written test score out of 60, academic score out of 10, and experience marks out of 10. The official said the public disclosure of scores aims to ensure transparency in the selection process.

As per the WBSSC’s current notice, 23,312 assistant teachers will be recruited for classes 9-10 and 12,514 for classes 11-12.  Around 20,000 candidates have been called for interviews for teaching classes 11-12, including about 9,500 fresh candidates. A senior official said the names have been shortlisted in a 1:1.6 ratio — 16 candidates for every 10 posts.

On May 30, the Commission had issued a notice for the recruitment of 35,726 teachers in total for classes 9-10 and 11-12, in line with the Supreme Court directive to issue the notification by May 31. In July, the Commission announced the new examination dates.

In July, the Calcutta High Court had dismissed an appeal filed by the SSC and the state government seeking permission for “tainted” teachers to participate in the fresh recruitment process.  Following a Supreme Court order, the Commission published the names and roll numbers of 1,806 “tainted” candidates and cancelled their admit cards on August 30. Later, it released a separate list of 3,512 “tainted” non-teaching staff in November 2025, following directions from the Supreme Court.