Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) to produce the list of candidates appointed in the 2016 teacher recruitment process after the expiry of the selection panel.

The direction came during the hearing of petitions challenging the 2025 recruitment rules for teachers in state-run and state-aided schools for classes 9-10 and 11-12, under which a fresh selection process is underway. One petitioner alleged that the SSC had failed to place on record the list of candidates appointed after the validity of the 2016 School Level Selection Test (SLST) panel had lapsed.

Justice Amrita Sinha asked the SSC to submit the details of all such appointments made for government and government-aided schools as per the SLST 2016. The recruitment panel for classes 11-12 expired in November 2018, while that for classes 9-10 lapsed in March 2019.

The court posted the matter for further hearing on December 10.

Senior advocate Bikash Bhattacharya, representing some petitioners, urged the court to ensure that the ongoing teacher selection process is conducted in a manner that inspires public confidence.
Another set of petitioners, who are fresh candidates, questioned the provision granting 10 marks for prior teaching experience, arguing through counsel Billwadal Bhattacharya that it violates the equality principle under Article 14 of the Constitution.