SLST Experience Marks: High Court Issues Major Order on 10 Experience Points, Directs SSC to Submit Report

SLST Experience Marks: The SLST teacher recruitment case is once again in the Calcutta High Court. This time, the dispute revolves around securing 10 experience marks. Are part-time or contractual teachers eligible for these marks? In a related case (Md. Alamgir vs. State of West Bengal), Justice Smita Dasde of the Calcutta High Court has issued a significant interim order. This order brings the issue of contractual teachers’ eligibility for experience marks back to the table for review.

What is the Petitioners’ Main Claim?

The petitioners, who are working as part-time or contractual teachers, allege that during the online form submission for SLST, the portal lacked any specific option or column to submit their experience details. As a result, they were unable to input necessary information such as their Teacher Code (TCH-code) or previous roll numbers.

The petitioners’ counsel argued that these teachers have been teaching for over 12 years and, according to the new SSC rules, they are eligible for these 10 experience marks. They further claim that without these 10 marks, they will be thrown out of the “zone of consideration,” which is an injustice to them.

The Objection from the State and SSC

On the other hand, the State and the School Service Commission (SSC) have opposed this claim. Their main argument is that, according to SSC rules, experience marks are only applicable to teachers appointed in “substantive posts” or permanent positions. Since the petitioners are employed in contractual posts, they are not eligible for this benefit.

The State also argued that the petitioners approached the court at a “belated stage.” This application is not acceptable when the form submission and examination processes are already completed.

The High Court’s Important Directive

After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Smita Dasde deemed the issue “debatable.” While not issuing a final verdict, she issued a significant directive to gather more information on the matter.

The court has ordered the School Service Commission (SSC) and the respective District Inspectors of Schools (DIs) to submit a report in the form of an affidavit on this issue. A deadline of seven days has been set for submitting this report.

Since the petitioners did not initially include the DIs in the case, the court has also granted them “leave grant” to add them as parties. The next hearing of the case will take place in the regular bench after the court vacation, and the case is reportedly set to be kept at the top of the list. With this order, the fate of the 10 experience marks for contractual teachers now hangs on the report from the SSC and the DIs.