32000 Teacher Jobs at Stake? What Happened in Court Today!
32000 Teacher Jobs: The case concerning the cancellation of 32,000 primary teacher jobs has taken a critical turn in the Kolkata High Court. This case will determine the future of thousands of job aspirants in West Bengal. A recent hearing was held in the court of the Hon’ble Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty, where several serious allegations were raised on behalf of the job candidates. In this blog post, we will highlight the crucial points from that hearing.
Key Allegations Presented in Court
Advocates Tarunjyoti Tewari and Kumarjyoti, representing the petitioners, presented several explosive allegations in court. These claims have raised significant questions about the transparency of the recruitment process.
- Lack of Transparency in Aptitude Test: Petitioners alleged that there are serious doubts about how the aptitude test was conducted, or if it was conducted at all.
- Violation of Reservation Policy: It was alleged that in several districts, the cut-off marks for reserved category candidates were higher than those for general category candidates. Many deserving candidates were not hired despite clearing the cut-off.
- Non-Publication of the Panel: The recruitment panel was not published as per the rules. Advocate Tarunjyoti Tewari informed the court that no panel was prepared according to Rule 8, Sub-rule 5.
- Allegations of Corruption: Widespread corruption has been alleged in the recruitment process, including claims that money was taken from candidates in exchange for extra marks.
- Third-Party Involvement: A private company (S. Roy Basu Company) was tasked with evaluating OMR sheets, which has been claimed as an illegal procedure.
- Additional Panels: Several additional panels were released at different times, the process of which has been questioned.
- Marks for Para-Teachers: Para-teachers were allegedly awarded marks in fractions for their aptitude tests or experience, suggesting irregularities.
- Excess Appointments: In several districts, including Nadia, Hooghly, Paschim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur, and Purulia, more appointments were made than the advertised vacancies.
The Court’s Observations
The Hon’ble Justice Tapasbrata Chakraborty sought clarification on several points from the petitioners. He inquired about the distinction between “exempted” and “non-exempted” categories and expressed surprise at the non-publication of the panel and mark breakup. The court also asked the petitioners if they were satisfied with the 2014 TET results, given that they had passed the exam.
The Future of the Case
The next hearing for this case is scheduled for September 2, 2025. This case is set to be a crucial milestone for the education system of West Bengal. It remains to be seen what the final verdict will be and how it will shape the future of thousands of aspiring teachers.
