April 22, 2024: The Calcutta High Court on Monday declared all appointments null and void in the selection of candidates in West Bengal government-sponsored and aided secondary and higher secondary schools through a 2016 recruitment process.

Over 25000 teachers’ jobs were dismissed by the court and ordered that those who were recruited illegally would have to return their salary within six weeks.

All appointments by the SSC in the categories of teachers of classes 9, 10, 11 and 12 and group-C and D staffers through the State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) where irregularities were found have also been declared null and void. More than 23 lakh candidates appeared for the 2016 State Level Selection Test (SLST) conducted by the WBSSC for over 24,000 vacant posts.

Therefore, the Calcutta HC has also instructed the administration to take action on fresh appointments in the next 15 days.

The court has pronouced its judgement after hearing petitions and appeals relating to alleged irregularities in the selection of candidates in the 2016 recruitment process. A division bench, formed by the Chief Justice of the High Court at the direction of the Supreme Court, was hearing the matter.