Primary Recruitment: A new legal complication has emerged even before the commencement of the 2025 primary teacher recruitment process. A new case has been filed in the Calcutta High Court, highlighting the disparity in academic scores within the recruitment rules. The petitioners allege that the West Bengal Board of Primary Education is still conducting the recruitment process based on the old 2016 gazette, which is causing severe disadvantages for job aspirants from the old syllabus.
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What is the Core Allegation?
According to a representative for the petitioners, the main issue revolves around the distribution of academic scores. The current method of calculating academic scores gives a significant advantage to candidates from the new syllabus. On the other hand, candidates who studied under the old syllabus are falling behind in the competition due to their lower percentage of marks. This lawsuit has been filed primarily to eliminate this discrimination. The petitioners claim that this practice goes against the principles of a fair recruitment process.
Key Demands of the Petitioners
Through this legal battle, the job aspirants have put forward several specific demands. Their primary demands include:
- Increase TET Weightage: Similar to other states, the weightage or importance of the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) scores in teacher recruitment must be increased in West Bengal.
- Normalization of Academic Scores: To address the existing disparity in academic scores, a “Normalization” process must be introduced. This will help in evaluating candidates from both old and new syllabuses on a level playing field.
- Gazette Amendment: The 2016 gazette, which forms the basis of the recruitment, must be amended to create a more contemporary and fair set of rules.
The petitioners have cited examples where the gazette was amended to introduce normalization, such as in the recent recruitment for Special Education and Staff Nurses in the Health Department. They argue that if it’s possible in those cases, it should be possible for primary recruitment as well.
Current Status of the Case
This is an entirely new case filed in the context of the upcoming 2025 recruitment. Although a previous case on this issue had led to the formation of the Maitra Committee, its progress seems to have stalled at present.
The petitioners have stated that they are pushing for an urgent hearing (mention) of the case, as the recruitment process could begin very soon. Their primary objective is not to halt the recruitment process but to ensure it is conducted through a transparent and non-discriminatory procedure after amending the gazette. They have urged all affected old-syllabus candidates across the state to join this fight to collectively address and eliminate this disparity.
