SC refuses to intervene in teacher recruitment; SSC free to publish Merit list

The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to interfere in the recruitment process for 14,052 higher primary teacher vacancies, a significant decision that clears the path for the School Service Commission (SSC) to proceed with publishing a new merit list. This decision comes after years of legal entanglements that have stalled the recruitment process, much to the frustration of job aspirants.

Earlier, the Calcutta High Court had ordered the state to fill over 14,000 vacancies. However, several job aspirants approached the Supreme Court, claiming that the order went against the reservation policy, leading to a temporary halt in the recruitment process. The issue has been ongoing since 2015, with a series of legal battles surrounding the high initial recruitment process. In 2020, the Calcutta High Court had quashed the recruitment, only to later allow the panel to be published in 2023.

A turning point came in August when a division bench of the Calcutta High Court directed the SSC to publish a new merit list and move forward with the recruitment of 14,052 posts. This was seen as a long-awaited breakthrough for aspirants who have been waiting for nearly eight years. The ruling also mandated that SSC counsel and appoint qualified candidates.

However, a fresh petition filed in the Supreme Court in September sought to challenge this ruling. With the Supreme Court now making it clear that it will not intervene, the SSC can move forward with recruitment before the upcoming festive season.