SSC Review Petition: New Turn in 26000 Teacher Job Cancellation Case, Review Petition Hearing Today
SSC Review Petition: The case concerning the cancellation of 26,000 jobs in the 2016 assistant teacher recruitment process, conducted by the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC), has taken a new turn. The hearing for the review petition challenging the cancellation verdict is scheduled to take place today, August 5, 2025, at the Supreme Court of India. This case will not only determine the fate of the 26,000 individuals who lost their jobs but also raises questions about the transparency and accountability of the state’s education system.
Background of the Case
A division bench of the Calcutta High Court had nullified the entire 2016 recruitment process due to allegations of OMR sheet manipulation and corruption, resulting in nearly 26,000 employed teachers and non-teaching staff losing their jobs. Against this verdict, the state government and eligible candidates filed multiple review petitions in the Supreme Court. The main review petition’s diary number is 23194/2025, which was filed on April 29, 2025, and registered on August 1, 2025.
Speculation Over the Nature of the Hearing
Initially, the hearing was slated to be held in Justice Sanjay Kumar’s chamber, which had caused some anxiety among the job candidates. Typically, only judges and lawyers are present in a chamber hearing, and the proceedings are not made public. However, a recent Supreme Court notification dated August 1, 2025, stated that chamber matters listed between August 4th and 8th could be taken up for hearing in open court on short notice. This notification has instilled new hope among the candidates, who have been demanding an open court hearing. An open court hearing would make every argument and piece of evidence public, which would help increase the transparency of the process.
The Significance of Today’s Hearing
Today’s hearing will be conducted by a bench comprising Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma. Justice Sanjay Kumar was also part of the bench that delivered the final verdict in the original job cancellation case, which further elevates the significance of this hearing. A total of 172 other review petitions have been connected with this main case, highlighting the widespread impact of the issue.
The entire state’s attention is now on the Supreme Court. Today’s hearing will determine the future of these 26,000 candidates and the path forward for the state’s education system. This case is not just a legal battle but a crucial step towards justice and transparency.
