Archive · 2 Sep 2026
Bengal Teacher Recruitment Stalls Amid Fresh Quota Dispute
A large group of teachers lost their jobs after a court found problems in their recruitment process.
The Supreme Court later said the government must hold a new selection process.
The School Service Commission said 15,403 candidates were not involved in the wrongdoing.
Even so, those candidates had to take part in the new process.
Some candidates were recommended for jobs, but many have not received appointment letters.
The government then changed the OBC reservation rules from 17% to 7%.
This means the list of selected candidates must be changed again.
The candidates say this will cause more delays and want their jobs restored.
The Supreme Court has given the government until May 31, 2027, to finish the recruitment.
The Calcutta High Court cancelled a 17,209-teacher recruitment panel in April 2024 over irregularities.
The Supreme Court upheld the cancellation in April 2025 and ordered a fresh selection process.
The School Service Commission identified 15,403 candidates as untainted, but still required them to reapply.
A change from a 17% to a 7% OBC quota has forced the panel to be recast.
The Supreme Court has extended the recruitment deadline to May 31, 2027, as a final opportunity.
- Who
- Teaching aspirants, the School Service Commission, the Bengal government, and the Supreme Court are involved.
- What
- A teacher recruitment process remains stalled after a cancelled panel, a fresh selection exercise, and a change in OBC quota rules.
- When
- The original panel was cancelled on April 22, 2024; the Supreme Court upheld the decision on April 3, 2025; the latest deadline is May 31, 2027.
- Where
- West Bengal, including proceedings before the Calcutta High Court and Supreme Court.
- Why
- The government is recasting the recruitment panel to apply a 7% OBC quota instead of the previous 17% quota.
Teaching Aspirants
State Government
Restoring jobs
Teaching Aspirants
Candidates say those identified as untainted should have their jobs restored without being forced through another selection process.
State Government
The government is proceeding with a fresh recruitment process ordered after the earlier panel was cancelled.
Changing quota rules
Teaching Aspirants
Candidates argue that changing OBC norms midway through recruitment will cause further delays and may exclude people already recommended for appointment.
State Government
The government says the change to a 7% quota requires the commission to recast the panels and therefore needs additional time.
Meeting the deadline
Teaching Aspirants
Candidates question whether appointments can be completed by May 31, 2027, citing pending counselling and legal challenges.
State Government
The Supreme Court has granted the government an extended, final opportunity to complete the recruitment by that date.
- Original panel
- 17,209 secondary and higher-secondary teacher candidates
- Candidates identified as untainted
- 15,403
- Candidates labeled tainted
- 1,806
- Plus II recommendations
- 3,586 candidates across 21 subjects
- Previous OBC quota
- 17%, covering 140 classes
- New OBC quota
- 7%, covering 66 classes
- New recruitment deadline
- May 31, 2027