Teacher Recruitment: Major Relief for Job Aspirants: Court Orders SSC to Issue Appointment Letter Within 2 Weeks

Teacher Recruitment: In a significant ruling, the Calcutta High Court has addressed the recruitment of 9th-10th grade teachers. The School Service Commission (SSC) had denied an appointment letter to a deserving candidate on the grounds of exceeding the age limit, despite her name being on the merit list. Justice Biswajit Basu’s bench declared the commission’s decision completely illegal and ordered the immediate issuance of an appointment letter to the candidate. This verdict brings a new ray of hope for many job aspirants across the state.

Background of the Case

The case revolves around a job candidate named Manasi Pal. She successfully cleared the 9th-10th grade teacher recruitment exam and her name was included in the merit list. However, the School Service Commission refused to issue her an appointment letter, citing that she had crossed the upper age limit. Ms. Pal challenged this decision in the Calcutta High Court.

The Court’s Observations and Verdict

Justice Biswajit Basu expressed strong dissatisfaction with the commission’s role in this matter. He highlighted several key points:

• Illegal Decision: The court clearly stated that denying a candidate on the merit list a job on the pretext of an age limit is entirely illegal. The rejection memo issued by the commission was also quashed.
• Appointment within Two Weeks: The court has directed the School Service Commission to issue an appointment letter to Manasi Pal within the next two weeks.
• Questioning the Commission’s Role: According to Justice Basu, such actions by the commission have led to years of harassment for eligible candidates. The commission’s conduct is generating multiple lawsuits, creating additional pressure on the judicial system.

The Impact of this Verdict

This verdict from the Calcutta High Court will have a profound impact not only on Manasi Pal’s case but also on many other job aspirants throughout the state.

• A New Ray of Hope: Those who were on the merit list but did not get appointed due to various technical or procedural errors will find the courage to re-apply, using this verdict as a precedent.
• Pressure on the Commission: This ruling will compel the School Service Commission to act more cautiously in the future. They will have to be more transparent and accountable in ensuring the rights of eligible candidates.
• Transparency in Recruitment: It is hoped that this verdict will lead to a more transparent and error-free teacher recruitment process in the state.

This historic judgment proves that the judicial system always stands by the deserving candidates. The justice that candidates like Manasi Pal have received after a long struggle and harassment is undoubtedly commendable. Now, it remains to be seen how quickly and effectively the School Service Commission implements the court’s order.