Overview

• A Calcutta High Court single-judge bench on July 7 directed the WBSSC to disqualify identified tainted candidates and cancel any applications they had submitted for the fresh teacher selection test.
• On July 8, separate petitions filed by the West Bengal government and the WBSSC were admitted by a division bench presided by Justices Soumen Sen and Smita Das De seeking review of that exclusion order.
• Petitioners argue that prohibiting candidates whose appointments were already annulled amounts to double punishment and exceeds the High Court’s authority under the Supreme Court directives.
• The division bench appeals also challenge the revised scoring system that awards 10 marks each for prior teaching experience and classroom demonstration, which critics view as a deviation from the 2016 recruitment rules.
• The WBSSC’s fresh recruitment drive has attracted over 350,000 applications for more than 44,000 vacancies and must conclude by December 31 under a Supreme Court mandate.