untainted-teachers-to-continue-till-aug-31-wbbse

‘Untainted’ teachers recruited through the 2016 State Level Selection Test (SLST) in West Bengal will be allowed to continue in service till August 31 next year, following a Supreme Court directive, the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) said on Friday.

 

A total of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff of state-sponsored and state-aided schools had lost their jobs after the apex court, on April 3, scrapped the entire 2016 SLST panel, citing large-scale irregularities. The teachers were engaged in Classes 9 to 12.

 

Subsequently, the Supreme Court allowed 15,403 teachers, whose direct involvement in the alleged scam was not established, to continue working till December 31 this year, while directing the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) to complete fresh recruitment by that deadline.

 

On Thursday, the apex court extended the deadline for completing the recruitment process to August 31, 2026, after accepting a plea filed by the WBBSE and the state education department.

 

“We are glad that the application filed by the Board in the Supreme Court was accepted on December 18. The not specifically tainted teachers of SLST 2016 are to continue till August 31. It is a forward-looking decision taken in the interest of the students and the school system of West Bengal,” Board Secretary Subrata Ghosh said.

 

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Education Minister Bratya Basu also welcomed the ruling, saying it reflected the court’s confidence in the state government.

 

“During this period (from January to August 2026), the existing teachers will be allowed to continue working as before,” Basu said in a post on X.

 

“The directive of the bench led by Justice Sanjay Kumar makes it evident that the West Bengal Central School Service Commission is proceeding along the right path of transparency and accountability,” he added.

 

A senior WBSSC official said the recruitment process for teachers of Classes 11 and 12 was nearing completion, with results expected by January 7, followed by counselling. Recruitment for Classes 9 and 10 teachers is likely to be completed by March.

 

The fresh recruitment process had begun in May this year.