Calcutta HC delays 32,000 job cancellation hearing as Justice Sen recuses himself, case referred to Chief Justice

The Calcutta High Court today deferred the hearing of the case concerning the cancellation of 32,000 primary school teacher appointments after Justice Soumen Sen recused himself from the matter. Justice Sen, a member of the division bench scheduled to hear the case, cited personal reasons for his withdrawal. As a result, the case has been referred to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, T.S. Shivagnam, for further direction.

The case revolves around an order passed in May 2023 by then-judge Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who had directed the termination of 32,000 appointments of primary teachers in West Bengal. The state government had filed an appeal challenging this order, which led to the matter being placed before the division bench, comprising Justice Sen and Justice Smita Das De. However, due to Justice Sen's recusal, the hearing has been postponed, and the case is now pending before the Chief Justice.

In addition to the primary teacher appointment case, related legal proceedings continue to unfold in the state. In a separate matter, Justice Amrita Singh had ordered the publication of a panel for 42,000 recruitments in the state’s education sector. This case is currently pending in the Supreme Court. The legal challenges surrounding teacher appointments and cancellations have become a focal point in West Bengal’s judicial and political landscape.

Justice Gangopadhyay's original order to cancel the 32,000 appointments followed allegations that untrained candidates had been selected for the teaching positions, despite scoring lower marks than other qualified applicants. Following these claims, the judge annulled the teacher recruitment panel, further intensifying the legal battle. The state’s appeal against the decision has added complexity to the issue, with the case now caught in a series of delays and adjustments.

This development follows a broader controversy surrounding recruitment in the state's education sector. In a related matter, the Supreme Court had earlier ordered the cancellation of 26,000 jobs for secondary and higher secondary teachers and staff in West Bengal, further fueling the ongoing legal and political debates on the matter. As the case progresses, the next steps remain uncertain, awaiting the Chief Justice’s decision on the way forward.