2 weeks ago
OBC uncertainty halts Plus II teacher counselling, risking August deadline
A group called the School Service Commission was getting ready to choose new teachers for Plus II classes in West Bengal.
But suddenly, they stopped the process.
They were confused about a rule called OBC reservation.
The rule decides how many jobs are set aside for a certain group of people.
One government had said the number should be 7%, and another government had said it should be 17%.
Because the two numbers are different, nobody was sure which one to use.
The Supreme Court, the top court in India, had said the hiring should be finished by August 31.
Now, because of the delay, that might not happen.
The commission is waiting for legal advice to figure out what to do next.
So the people who want to be teachers have to wait a little longer.
The School Service Commission postponed Plus II teacher counselling in government-aided schools until further notice over OBC reservation uncertainty.
The delay puts the Supreme Court's August 31 deadline for completing recruitment at risk.
The postponement came after the commission received legal opinion on the matter one day after chairman Dushyant Nariala said legal advice was being sought.
The uncertainty stems from an August 7 Backward Classes Welfare Department order on whether the 7% OBC reservation approved by the BJP government or the 17% of the earlier Trinamool government applies.
The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education also kept police verification of candidates recommended for Plus II teaching posts in abeyance.
- Who
- The School Service Commission (SSC), its chairman Dushyant Nariala, the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, and school education minister Dipak Barman.
- What
- The indefinite postponement of Plus II teacher counselling in government-aided schools due to uncertainty over which OBC reservation policy applies, putting the Supreme Court's August 31 recruitment deadline at risk.
- Where
- West Bengal, India, for teaching posts in government-aided schools at the secondary and higher secondary levels.
- When
- The postponement was announced on Wednesday, a day before counselling was scheduled to start on August 14; the recruitment process began on June 16, 2025.
- Why
- An August 7 order of the Backward Classes Welfare Department raised uncertainty over whether the 7% OBC reservation approved by the BJP government on May 18 or the 17% reservation of the earlier Trinamool government applies to the recruitment process.
17% OBC Reservation (Earlier Trinamool Policy)
7% OBC Reservation (BJP Government Policy)
Applicable OBC reservation for teacher recruitment
17% OBC Reservation (Earlier Trinamool Policy)
The 17% OBC reservation policy of the earlier Trinamool government should apply to the teacher recruitment process initiated in June 2025, consistent with the advice that processes initiated during relevant periods follow the reservation policy in force at the time.
7% OBC Reservation (BJP Government Policy)
The 7% OBC reservation approved by the BJP government on May 18 should govern recruitment processes initiated after that date, with the government making a fresh assessment of whether the revised 17% policy applies to the June 2025 process.
Impact on recruitment timeline
17% OBC Reservation (Earlier Trinamool Policy)
Applying the established 17% policy would allow counselling and police verification to resume quickly and help meet the Supreme Court's August 31 deadline.
7% OBC Reservation (BJP Government Policy)
The fresh assessment of the reservation policy justifies the current halt and legal review, even though it makes completing recruitment by the end of August difficult.
Key facts
- Commission
- School Service Commission (SSC)
- Postponed process
- Counselling for Plus II teaching jobs across 12 subjects
- Scheduled start
- August 14 (postponed until further notice)
- Deadline
- August 31 (set by the Supreme Court)
- OBC reservation conflict
- 7% (approved by BJP government on May 18) vs 17% (earlier Trinamool government)
- Triggering order
- Backward Classes Welfare Department order of August 7
- Recruitment initiated
- June 16, 2025
- Related action
- Police verification of recommended candidates put on hold by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education
Quotes
SSC official
Senior official at the school service commission
“"Under the present circumstances, it will be difficult to complete the recruitment process by the end of August,"”
telegraphindia.com
“"SSC is looking into the issue. They have been told what is to be done."”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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