In a significant development following the Supreme Court’s directive to nullify over 25,000 school staff appointments, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a fresh and unprecedented recruitment drive. This announcement marks a pivotal moment for the state’s education sector as it grapples with the fallout from the School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment scam.
The new drive will not only attempt to comply with the Supreme Court's mandate but also provide relief to thousands of teaching and non-teaching staff who have lost their jobs due to the court’s ruling.
Background: Supreme Court Nullifies Over 25,000 Appointments
On April 3, 2024, the Supreme Court invalidated the appointments of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff made under the 2016 SSC recruitment process. The apex court described the recruitment as “vitiated and tainted” and ordered a fresh recruitment notification by May 31, with the entire process to be completed by December 31, 2024.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court reserved judgment on a batch of 124 petitions challenging the Calcutta High Court’s April 22 ruling on the matter. A bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar heard arguments from all sides, including a petition filed by the West Bengal government.
"In several states, including Tripura and Uttar Pradesh, thousands of teaching jobs were cancelled without justice. In West Bengal, we believe, as Kobiguru Rabindranath Tagore said, that justice must prevail. Our priority is to ensure that teachers are treated with dignity and… pic.twitter.com/Pu6PtzE1kq— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) May 27, 2025
Mamata Banerjee’s Response: A New Recruitment Roadmap
In a press conference held on Tuesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee laid out a detailed plan to initiate a new round of teacher and staff recruitment while continuing the legal battle through a review petition in the Supreme Court.
“We want all those teachers who lost their jobs to get their jobs back. But we also have to follow the Supreme Court directive on issuing the notification by May 31. I want to tell you that we have been compelled to do this (the fresh recruitment). Do not think we are agreeably doing this,” the CM stated.
Dual Strategy: Legal Appeal and Recruitment Drive
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The CM made it clear that both the legal route and recruitment process would move in parallel.
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“Both the review petition and the process of issuing the notification will go on simultaneously,” she said.
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She expressed frustration at the Supreme Court’s summer vacation, which has delayed the hearing of the review petition.
“But, summer vacation is going on at the Supreme Court, due to which it could not be heard. In our petition, we have mentioned that we do not want those who were working to lose their jobs.”
"The issue of advertisement and filing of affidavit will be completed by May 30, and the entire process, including counselling, will be completed within the given timeline.”
— Smt. @MamataOfficial pic.twitter.com/1vzjM6s4Wl— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) May 27, 2025
Timeline for the Fresh Recruitment Drive
Mamata Banerjee unveiled a comprehensive timeline and structure for the new recruitment process:
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Notification Date: May 30, 2024
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Application Window: June 16 – July 14, 2024
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Recruitment Completion Deadline: End of November 2024
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Final Panel Publication: November 15, 2024
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Counselling Begins: November 20, 2024
“Written test, scrutiny, challenge, result publication and interview shall be completed in the meantime, if we do not get any result in the review petition,” Banerjee clarified.
Scale of the Recruitment Drive: 44,203 Vacancies
This recruitment drive is the largest ever undertaken by the Mamata Banerjee-led administration. It includes:
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24,203 vacant positions (created due to the SC and HC rulings)
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11,517 teachers for classes 9 and 10
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6,912 teachers for classes 11 and 12
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1,571 Group-C and Group-D staff
“Besides the 24,203 vacant posts, additional vacancies have been created to recruit 11,517 teachers for classes 9 and 10, 6,912 vacant posts have been created for teachers for classes 11 and 12 and 1,571 vacancies have been created for group-C and group-D posts. The total vacancies are 44,203,” Banerjee confirmed.
“Advertisement may be issued for 24,203 vacant posts, with total proposed vacancies now at 44,203. Age relaxation and experience-based advantage will be given to ensure eligible candidates are not left out.”
— Smt. @MamataOfficial pic.twitter.com/jH8Te02amW— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) May 27, 2025
Special Provisions: Age Relaxation and Experience Weightage
Understanding the impact of the nine-year delay since the 2016 SSC recruitment, the Chief Minister announced crucial relaxations:
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No Age Barrier: Candidates who have exceeded the usual age limit due to the delay will be allowed to apply.
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Experience Weightage: Formerly employed teachers will receive credit for their experience.
“Age will not be a barrier. Those who lost their jobs will be allowed to sit for the exam even if they have crossed the usual age limit. They will also receive the benefit of their experience,” she declared.
“Age relaxation will be offered so that everyone can appear for the test. We will also give an advantage to those with work experience.”
Reassignment for Group-C and Group-D Staff
For Group-C and Group-D staff who lost their jobs or were ordered to return salaries:
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A separate notification will be released in the first week of June.
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The affected staff will be given a chance to be re-employed in 3-4 other departments.
CM’s Emotional Appeal to Protesters
Facing protests across Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee addressed the sacked teachers directly:
“It will not be right for you to say that you will not take part in it, then you will not have the job. This is not our order. Some selfish people are behind this. The government did not go to court.”
“Take the exam. Continue going to your school. You will receive your salary till the year-end.”
“Protect your right to return with dignity. Opportunities will come. Make the most of them.”
She continued, urging calm and patience:
“We will register your review petition again after the SC’s summer break. We have kept time for this. Our lawyers will fight to the best of their ability. The verdict is not in my hands; it is in the court’s hand. We will present it humanely so that jobs are not cancelled.”
“I will try my best. Why are you afraid? Those who are over 40 will be given an age-limit exemption.”
"We have filed the review petition at the appropriate time, and the matter remains pending before the Hon’ble Supreme Court. We do not want eligible teachers to lose their jobs. In compliance with the Court’s order, the notification will be issued by May 31.”
– Smt.… pic.twitter.com/bFAdeG12zf— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) May 27, 2025
Criticism from Affected Teachers
Despite the CM's assurances, many affected teachers voiced disappointment and skepticism.
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Brindaban Ghosh, from the Deserving Teachers Rights Forum:
“We had apprehension that the government is forcing us to sit for the test again, and our apprehensions turned out to be true.”
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Habibur Rahman criticized the state’s delay and lack of clarity:
“The government has the role and responsibility to protect the interests of untainted jobless teaching and non-teaching staff. We did not find the words of the CM reassuring enough.”
He also questioned the exam fairness:
“If we have to sit for competitive exams and qualify, what will be the syllabus for it? Will we have to sit along with our students of the 2018-19 and later batches who will also apply for exams?”
“Age relaxation and weightage to working experience don’t cut much ice as we cannot start the process after all these years.”
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Poulomi Dey, protesting outside the Education Department for 21 days:
“It is not clear why we are being asked to sit for the exams to prove our abilities for the second time.”
Political Swipe at Opposition
Mamata Banerjee did not shy away from targeting her political rivals:
“We did not take your jobs. Those who took away your jobs are now trying to be your friends. Some 10,000 teachers’ jobs were cancelled in Tripura and they did not get their jobs back despite promises. Some 69,000 teachers lost their jobs in Uttar Pradesh. Panels have been cancelled in other states as well. So many have died in the Vyapam scam and there has been no justice.”
Balancing Compliance and Compassion
Mamata Banerjee’s announcement underscores a tightrope walk—balancing judicial compliance with public outcry. With over 44,000 job openings, age relaxations, and an ongoing legal challenge, the government aims to provide hope to thousands while toeing the Supreme Court’s line.
The coming months will be decisive, not just for the affected teachers, but for the broader credibility of West Bengal’s education recruitment systems.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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