Primary Teacher Recruitment: Primary Teacher Recruitment: Huge Update in High Court on 2014 and 2009 Cases, Candidates See Ray of Hope

Primary Teacher Recruitment: Is the deadlock in West Bengal’s primary teacher recruitment process finally about to break? Indications from the Calcutta High Court suggest a positive shift. Several long-pending cases related to the 2014 and 2009 primary teacher recruitment processes gained new momentum today. Multiple crucial cases regarding these recruitments were mentioned before the bench of Justice Bibhas Pattanayak at the Calcutta High Court today, reigniting hope among job aspirants. The primary objective of mentioning these cases was to draw the court’s attention towards resolving the legal complexities that have stalled the process for years.

New Turn in 2014 Recruitment Process

Controversies surrounding the recruitment process based on the 2014 TET (Teacher Eligibility Test) seem unending. Multiple cases linked to this recruitment were stalled, awaiting a verdict from the Division Bench. Specifically, due to the pending case regarding the termination of 32,000 teachers (Priyanka Naskar vs. State Government), hearings for other individual writ petitions in the Single Bench were not possible.

Recently, the Division Bench of Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty clearly directed that decisions on ‘Independent Writ’ petitions or individual cases should be made by the Single Bench. Following this directive, matters related to the 2014 recruitment were mentioned today in Justice Bibhas Pattanayak’s court. Significant issues include:

• Cut-off Marks & Rank Jumping: There have been long-standing allegations regarding discrepancies in cut-off marks and candidates with lower scores jumping ranks to secure jobs. These cases are now expected to proceed towards a hearing.
• 82 Marks in Reserved Category: A prolonged legal battle continues regarding the recruitment claims of trained candidates in the reserved category who passed TET with 82 marks. With the Division Bench hurdle removed, these cases are likely to gain importance.

2009 Recruitment Deadlock and Candidates’ Claims

Not just 2014, but significant activity was also observed in the court today regarding the 2009 primary teacher recruitment process. Several complaints have been filed, particularly concerning recruitment in North 24 Parganas, Malda, and Howrah districts.

Previously, Justice Rajasekhar Mantha of the Calcutta High Court had set a specific ‘cut-off date’ for the 2009 recruitment. Allegations have surfaced that despite applying within the court-mandated deadline, many eligible candidates did not receive jobs. Today, the cases of these deprived candidates were also mentioned. The petitioners claim that despite adhering to the court’s order, they have faced injustice and are praying for justice through a speedy hearing.

Current Hearing Status

Although the cases were mentioned in court today, there remains some uncertainty about exactly when the hearings will commence. Currently, the Calcutta High Court is occupied with complex hearings regarding the 2023-2025 academic session and NIOS-related matters. Given the court’s busy schedule, it is not confirmed whether these 2014 and 2009 cases will appear on the hearing list today. However, a section of lawyers and the petitioners remain highly optimistic. Since the Division Bench’s impediment has been resolved, they hope that regular hearings will soon begin in Justice Bibhas Pattanayak’s bench, and the long-deprived candidates will finally secure their rightful employment.