The Calcutta High Court has quashed a 2023 order that had cancelled the appointments of nearly 32,000 primary school teachers in West Bengal, providing relief to thousands of educators and their families.
These teachers were recruited through the 2014 Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) conducted by the West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBBPE). In 2023, a single-judge bench had ruled that the recruitment process was flawed and directed the termination of all appointments, citing irregularities in the selection process.
The division bench, comprising Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Reetobrata Kumar Mitra, examined the case and found that irregularities were confined to only a small number of appointments. Specifically, evidence suggested that 264 appointments, plus an additional 96 later flagged, were problematic. The bench ruled that this did not justify cancelling the entire list of appointments, affecting thousands of teachers who had been in service for nearly nine years.
The court emphasized that mass termination would cause severe social and economic hardship to the teachers and their families, many of whom had built their careers and financial stability around these jobs. It noted that the majority of appointments were valid and that employees who had served faithfully should not be penalized for limited irregularities.
By overturning the 2023 order, the High Court has allowed the 32,000 teachers to retain their positions, ensuring continuity in West Bengal’s primary education system. The ruling brings much-needed relief to the educators and stabilizes the state’s teaching workforce, highlighting the court’s focus on fairness and proportionality in employment matters.
This verdict is being welcomed as a major decision that safeguards the interests of long-serving teachers while maintaining accountability in recruitment practices.
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