SLST Rules Case: Major Complication in SLST Recruitment Rules High Voltage Hearing in High Court Today

SLST Rules Case: Legal complications have once again gripped the teacher recruitment process in the state. A crucial hearing regarding the case challenging the highly anticipated SLST 2025 recruitment rules of the School Service Commission (SSC) is scheduled to take place today, December 1st, at the Calcutta High Court. Thousands of aspirants dreaming of becoming teachers are eagerly looking towards the court today. The primary focus is on whether the confusion surrounding the changes mentioned in the new gazette or rules will be cleared.

Current Status of the Case and Court Details

This high-voltage case is listed for hearing today before the Single Bench of Honorable Justice Amrita Sinha at the Calcutta High Court. According to the daily cause list of the court, the matter is placed quite high on the list, indicating a strong possibility of a significant order being passed today. The hearing is expected to commence before the lunch break, likely between 12:00 PM and 12:30 PM.

Key details of the case are presented in the table below:

Why the Rules Challenge? The Core of the Dispute

Resentment has brewed among a section of job aspirants regarding the SSC’s new recruitment rules. The main objection of the petitioners revolves around the special weightage or benefits proposed for ‘Teaching Experience’ in the recruitment of teachers for classes IX-X and XI-XII. They claim that this rule is completely biased and goes against the interests of general candidates.

According to the arguments put forth by the petitioners’ lawyers, the main reasons for challenging these new rules are:

• Violation of Constitution: The new rules are alleged to violate Articles 14, 16, 19, and 21 of the Indian Constitution. It is argued that general candidates are being deprived of the right to equality and equal opportunity in employment.
• Allegations of Nepotism: Charges have been leveled that the ‘Teaching Experience’ rule has been included with the ulterior motive of favoring specific individuals.
• Arbitrary and Discriminatory: The petitioners believe that this decision by the SSC is completely arbitrary and unreasonable. It creates obstacles in a merit-based recruitment process.

Context and Demands of the Aspirants

This petition has been primarily filed by candidates who allege they were deprived due to corruption in the 2016 recruitment process. They state that they have been fighting for a long time, and now, while participating in the new 2025 process, they find the rules framed in a way that might deprive them once again. They have appealed to the court to completely set aside this flawed notification.

On January 28, 2025, the court had ordered the filing of affidavits in this case. Today, following that phase, the future of the state’s upcoming teacher recruitment process depends heavily on the court’s verdict or subsequent directions.