Calcutta High Court Reprimands West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC), Seeks Personal Attendance Of Chairman

In the concerned case, the petitioner had submitted that in spite of getting more marks than the respondent in the 1st State Level Selection Test, 2016 (SLST, 2016) for recruitment of Assistant Teachers in Upper Primary school, his name had not been mentioned in the interview list. He had calculated his marks in accordance with the table enumerated in the West Bengal School Service Commission Rules of 2016 as published in the gazette on September 20, 2016.

The Court observed that although notice had been issued to the WBSSC on 25^th June, 2021 no representation had yet been made in this regard. Expressing his anguish, Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay remarked,

"From the affidavit of service it appears that it has been received by the School Service Commission on 25th June, 2021. Today we are on 2nd July, 2021, but the School Service Commission is neither represented by any learned advocate nor there is any instruction given to the learned advocate for the State who are present. It is a matter of great regret that though the matter is pending from 2016, the School Service Commission is not sincere enough for assisting the court by appearing in this matter."

Consequently the Court directed the Chairman, West Bengal Central School Service Commission to be personally present at 2:30 p.m for further adjudication of the dispute.

"It is made clear that if he does not appear today at 2:30 p.m., further appropriate orders will be passed for ensuring his presence", the order read.

Accordingly, the Chairman of the West Bengal Central School Service Commission was personally present before the Court during the 2:30 pm hearing.

The matter is listed to be heard next on July 9.

Case Title: Md. Sarikul Islam v. The State of West Bengal & Ors.