In a significant development amid heightened political activity in West Bengal, the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) on Saturday published the OMR sheets of the 2016 SLST (State Level Selection Test), a move seen as a response to prolonged legal scrutiny and mounting allegations of irregularities in the school recruitment process.
The decision comes at a politically sensitive moment, coinciding with developments surrounding the swearing-in of Suvendu Adhikari at the Brigade Parade Ground. While the Commission has maintained that the release was aimed at ensuring transparency, observers note the timing adds a new dimension to the ongoing political narrative.
The SSC had been under sustained pressure following allegations of manipulation of OMR sheets in the recruitment of teachers for classes IX–X and XI–XII. Acting on petitions related to the case, the Calcutta High Court had earlier directed the Commission to upload original scanned copies of the answer sheets.
Complying with the court’s directive, the Commission has now made the OMR sheets available on its official website. Candidates who appeared for the 2016 SLST examinations can access and download their individual answer sheets by entering their roll numbers and dates of birth.
According to SSC sources, the move is intended to address concerns over alleged tampering and restore confidence in the recruitment process. The public release of the answer sheets is expected to enable candidates to verify their marks and assess whether any discrepancies occurred.
The recruitment process had been at the center of a major political controversy, with allegations that marks were manipulated and ineligible candidates were appointed. The issue has repeatedly been raised in the political arena, particularly by leaders of the opposition.
Reactions among candidates have largely been positive, with many welcoming the step as a long-awaited measure toward transparency. Several aspirants believe that access to the OMR sheets will help uncover the truth behind the allegations, including claims of inflated marks or blank answer sheets being evaluated.
While the SSC has framed the move as compliance with judicial orders, its timing — on a day of major political transition in the state —has drawn attention from both political and administrative circles.
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