WBSSC Case in High Court Again: Allegations of Lack of Transparency in 2010 Recruitment Process

WBSSC Case: A case has been filed in the Calcutta High Court challenging the transparency of the 2010 School Service Commission (SSC) teacher recruitment process. The petitioner, a candidate from that examination, has alleged discrepancies in the evaluation of approximately 10 questions in their OMR sheet, which was obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) query. The matter is being heard in the court of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha.

The central issue in the case is the significant delay in filing the complaint, as the recruitment process was completed and the panel’s validity expired long ago, reportedly in 2012. The petitioner has cited mental depression as the reason for the delay.

In court, the petitioner’s counsel argued that since there are allegations of errors or fraud in the evaluation, the delay should be condoned under the Limitation Act, 1963. The counsel also expressed concerns that irregularities might have occurred in the evaluation of 71 candidates who were called for the personality test.

Conversely, the SSC’s lawyer contended that, according to the law, once a recruitment panel’s term expires and candidates have been appointed from that panel, the panel cannot be challenged. This is because it could disrupt the stability of those already appointed. Citing several Supreme Court rulings, the lawyer emphasized that an expired panel is not challengeable and stated that the petitioner should have approached the court while the panel was still valid.

The court has heard arguments from both sides. While observing that every citizen has the right to seek justice, the court also noted that it must be pursued through legal channels. No final order has been issued in this case yet. However, this case brings to the forefront the importance of transparency in the state’s teacher recruitment processes and the significance of raising grievances within the stipulated timeframe. It also raises the question of whether justice can be delivered for alleged evaluation fraud, even after many years. All eyes will be on the court’s directions in subsequent hearings.