WBSSC issues notice for recruitment of over 35,726 school teachers

The West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) has issued a notice for recruitment of 35,726 teachers of classes 9-10 and 11-12 at state-aided schools abiding by the Supreme Court directive to issue notification by 31 May.

As per the notice, uploaded on the WBSSC site on late Thursday night, there will be recruitment of 23,312 teachers for classes 9-10 and 12,514 teachers for classes 11-12 in the secondary and higher secondary schools respectively.

In a significant clause, the notice stipulated the age limit from 21 years-40 years.

"Upper age limit is, however, relaxable by 5 years for scheduled caste/scheduled tribe candidates, 3 years for backward class candidates and 8 years for physically handicapped candidates," the notice said.

Candidates will be given carbon copies of OMR sheets which will be preserved for three years.

The online applications will be received from 16 June 5 pm till 17 June 5 pm, it said.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and justice Sanjay Kumar, on 3 April, upheld the Calcutta High Court verdict of 22 April 2024, invalidating the appointment of teachers and staffers in the state-run and aided schools, terming the entire selection process "vitiated and tainted".

On 17 April, the top court extended till 31 December the services of the terminated teachers found untainted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), after taking note of the state government's submissions that the mass terminations have adversely impacted teaching in the schools.

The Supreme Court said the advertisement for fresh recruitment will be published on or before 31 May and the entire process including the examination will be completed by 31 December 2025. The court asked the state government and its West Bengal School Service Commission to file a compliance affidavit on the initiation of the recruitment process on or before 31 May.