Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday instructed the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) to present the list of candidates appointed through the 2016 teacher recruitment process after the panel's expiry.

Petitioners have challenged the 2025 recruitment rules being applied for teachers in government and aided schools for classes 9-10 and 11-12, amidst an ongoing selection procedure. One petitioner pointed out that the SSC has yet to disclose the post-panel-expiry appointment list from the 2016 SLST (School Level Selection Test).

Justice Amrita Sinha ordered the SSC to submit the list of appointees made after the panel validity ended, November 2018 for classes 11-12 and March 2019 for classes 9-10. The next hearing is scheduled for December 10.

Senior advocate Bikash Bhattacharya, representing some petitioners, requested that the court ensure the ongoing teacher recruitment process is transparent and beyond reasonable doubt to bolster public confidence. Fresh candidates opposed the provision awarding 10 marks for prior teaching experience, arguing that it conflicts with the constitutional equality principle under Article 14. Their counsel, Billwadal Bhattacharya, said the practice undermines equal opportunity among candidates.

With inputs from PTI