In a landmark decision, the Calcutta High Court has restored the jobs of 32,000 primary school teachers whose appointments from the 2016 Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) panel were previously declared invalid. The division bench ruled that there was no substantial evidence to justify cancelling the entire recruitment process.
The bench, comprising Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Reetabrata Kumar Mitra, set aside the single bench order from 2023, stating that irregularities were not proven across all appointments.
Court Says Mass Termination After Nine Years Is Unjust
The division bench emphasized the human impact of the earlier decision. It observed that terminating thousands of jobs nearly nine years later would cause severe hardship to the teachers and their families.
The court further noted that while the CBI had initially flagged 264 appointments for issues such as additional mark allocation, the agency had not found evidence indicating involvement of any external source or systemic manipulation. Another set of 96 teachers, whose jobs had previously come under scrutiny, were reinstated following a Supreme Court directive.
According to the bench, this limited evidence was not enough to invalidate the entire selection panel.
A Relief for Thousands of Families
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee welcomed the verdict, calling it a major relief for thousands of households.
“We are happy with the court’s order. It is a great relief that the jobs of these teachers are saved. We want to generate jobs, not take them away,” she told reporters.
The decision is expected to bring long-awaited clarity for the educators who have served in state-run and aided primary schools for nearly a decade.
Background: The 2023 Controversial Order
The saga began when a group of candidates challenged the recruitment process, alleging widespread irregularities by the West Bengal Board of Primary Education.
On 12 May 2023, a single bench led by Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay scrapped all 32,000 appointments. The order cited possible procedural violations, including allegations that some teachers may have been recruited without appearing for the mandatory aptitude test.
However, the division bench clarified that the CBI’s investigation does not substantiate these allegations.
What Happens Next?
The petitioners sought a stay on the fresh ruling, but the court refused. With this, the long legal battle over the 2016 TET recruitment appears close to resolution—unless escalated to the Supreme Court.
For now, the teachers retain their jobs, bringing relief to thousands of households and stability to the state’s primary education system.