SLST Recruitment EWS: Bad News for SLST Job Aspirants! Calcutta High Court Big Verdict on EWS Certificate
SLST Recruitment EWS: The Calcutta High Court has delivered a significant judgment regarding the recruitment of teachers through the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC). This verdict is particularly crucial for candidates who applied under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category. Justice Amrita Sinha of the Calcutta High Court has given a precedent-setting ruling on the validity of EWS certificates in the Second SLST (State Level Selection Test) 2025 recruitment process. The judgment clearly specifies which EWS certificates will be accepted in the recruitment process and which will be considered invalid.
Context of the Case
The case primarily revolved around the timeline of EWS certificates for candidates in the Second SLST 2025 recruitment process. The petitioners, Kamlakanta Maiti and others, approached the court regarding the validity of their certificates. The core issue was that many candidates had applied for EWS certificates before the application deadline but received the physical certificates after the deadline due to administrative delays. They demanded that these certificates be accepted as valid documents for the recruitment process.
Important Dates
The dates played a pivotal role in this case. The details are as follows:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Recruitment Notification | May 30, 2025 |
| Application Deadline (Extended) | July 21, 2025 |
| Edit/Update Window | August 5 to August 12, 2025 |
Arguments from Both Sides
During the hearing, both parties presented strong arguments in their favor:
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Join on Telegram- Petitioners’ Argument: The petitioners claimed that they had completed the application process for the certificates well before the application deadline. The delay in receiving the certificates was due to administrative reasons and not their fault. Furthermore, since they possessed the valid certificates during the ‘Edit Window’, they argued that they should be granted the benefits of the EWS category.
- Commission’s (SSC) Argument: The Commission stated that the notification clearly mentioned that to avail of reservation benefits, a candidate must possess a valid certificate issued on or before the application deadline (July 21, 2025). Any document issued after this date would not be accepted.
Court’s Observations and Verdict
Justice Amrita Sinha made several key observations in her judgment:
- Importance of Cut-off Date: The court emphasized that according to the recruitment notification conditions, the candidate must hold a valid EWS certificate by the application deadline. Any certificate issued after this date is not acceptable for this recruitment process.
- Purpose of the Edit Window: The court clarified that the ‘Edit’ or ‘Update’ opportunity provided by the Commission was only for those who already possessed valid certificates (before the deadline) but needed to correct errors. It was not intended for acquiring new qualifications or documents.
- Prevention of Discrimination: Accepting certificates obtained after the deadline would be discriminatory towards other candidates and could lead to future legal complications.
- Financial Year Basis: An EWS certificate is issued based on the income of a specific financial year and is valid for one year. Therefore, its validity within the specified timeframe is essential.
Final Decision
Taking all factors into account, the Calcutta High Court dismissed the petitioners’ application. The verdict states that those who received their EWS certificates after July 21, 2025, will not receive EWS category benefits in this recruitment process. Consequently, many candidates who received their certificates late due to delays will be deprived of this benefit, although they may still be considered as General category candidates if they meet the merit criteria. This judgment serves as a strict reminder about the importance of cut-off dates in government recruitment.
