Over 5 lakh apply for 35,726 teaching posts in Bengal schools after SC scraps 2016 recruitment

The West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) has received over five lakh applications for 35,726 assistant teacher posts in government and aided schools for Classes 9 to 12. The recruitment drive follows the Supreme Court’s cancellation of the 2016 recruitment process. WBSSC Chairman Siddhartha Majumdar said the application portal was launched on June 16, and the deadline was extended from July 14 to July 21. By July 17, over five lakh applications had been submitted.

The commission issued the notification for these posts on May 30, in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive. In April, the Court cancelled 25,753 teacher appointments made through the 2016 State Level Selection Test (SLST) citing procedural violations. It also nullified appointments made for Group 'C' and Group 'D' staff. The Court directed the state government to begin a fresh recruitment process and file an affidavit confirming action by May 31.

According to a senior official of the commission, the 2016 SLST had seen over three lakh applicants. After the Supreme Court verdict, WBSSC initiated a new recruitment process to fill vacancies arising from the cancelled appointments. The number of applicants in the current cycle has already surpassed that of 2016, indicating a high level of interest among eligible candidates.

Following the Supreme Court order, WBSSC allowed 15,403 of the 17,206 previously appointed teachers to continue receiving salaries until December, stating they were “not found specifically disqualified.” The remaining teachers have been barred from reporting to school. The commission clarified that review petitions have been filed by both the state government and WBSSC against the Supreme Court’s April 3 and April 17 orders.

Chinmoy Mandal, an office-bearer of the Deserving Teachers Rights Forum, said, “We do not wish to comment on the number of applications. But those who passed the 2016 exam will now sit for the test with their own former students, who have since completed graduation or post-graduation. This is a very uncomfortable situation.” He added that the authorities should have prepared stronger legal arguments in support of the teachers who were not found disqualified.