Calcutta HC takes up petition challenging WB SSC recruitment notification over age relaxation rules

The Kolkata High Court has admitted a petition challenging the new recruitment notification issued by the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC). The petitioner contends that the notification violates Supreme Court orders and that the new rules, particularly regarding age relaxation, were not properly formulated under the law. The court has scheduled the next hearing for June 5.

The recruitment notification was issued before May 31, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s deadline. It sets the age limit for general category candidates between 21 and 40 years. The notification also provides age relaxation for candidates belonging to OBC, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and differently-abled persons. Furthermore, candidates who were excluded from the 2016 SSC recruitment due to age restrictions have been granted special age relaxation this time.

Protesting dismissed teachers had previously declared they would not participate in the new examination. Senior advocate Firdaus Shameem had indicated that providing special age relaxation could invite legal challenges. Following this, the petition against the notification has now been filed in the High Court.

The petition raises questions about the legal validity of the recruitment rules and their compliance with Supreme Court directives. The hearing on June 5 will address these concerns and determine the future course of the recruitment process under the West Bengal SSC.