Archive · 13 Nov 2025
State Backs SSC on Experience Marks Timing in Teacher Recruitment
Imagine teachers applying for jobs in West Bengal.
There's a special test, and some teachers who already have experience get extra points, 10 marks to be exact.
The big question is: when should these extra points be given?
The government and the School Service Commission (SSC) say they can give these points early, before deciding who gets an interview.
But the teachers who filed a complaint say the rules clearly state these points should only be given after the interview.
They went to court to get an answer.
The court is listening to both sides and will make a decision later.
This decision is important because it could affect who gets hired for the 12,514 teaching positions.
The court has also said that the whole hiring process will depend on what they decide.
The West Bengal government supports the School Service Commission (SSC) on the timing of awarding experience marks in teacher recruitment.
A petition in Calcutta High Court questions whether 10 marks for teaching experience should be awarded before or after the interview.
The state's advocate-general stated that the SSC has the prerogative to decide when to award these marks.
The commission intends to award the 10 experience marks before shortlisting candidates for interviews.
The court fixed the next hearing for November 28 and stated the recruitment process is subject to the petition's outcome.
- Who
- The West Bengal government, represented by its advocate-general, and the School Service Commission (SSC), versus petitioners seeking clarity on recruitment rules.
- What
- A legal dispute over the timing of awarding 10 extra marks for teaching experience to in-service teachers in the recruitment process.
- When
- During a hearing on Wednesday, with the next date set for November 28.
- Where
- Calcutta High Court, West Bengal.
- Why
- To determine whether the SSC can award marks for teaching experience before the interview or only after, as stipulated by recruitment rules.
West Bengal Government/SSC
Petitioners
Timing of Awarding Experience Marks
West Bengal Government/SSC
The School Service Commission (SSC) has the prerogative to decide at what stage of screening teacher job aspirants it will award marks for teaching experience, and has decided to award these 10 marks before drawing the list of candidates for interviews.
Petitioners
The recruitment rules mandate that the commission can award 10 marks for prior teaching experience only after the interview process, and awarding them before will violate these rules.
Purpose of Petition
West Bengal Government/SSC
The petition has been filed to disrupt the recruitment process, which is taking place after nine years, and similar petitions challenging the awarding of experience marks have been rejected by higher courts in the past.
Petitioners
The petition seeks clarity on whether the extra 10 marks for in-service teachers would be awarded before the interview or before the publication of the final merit lists.
- Court Hearing Date
- November 28
- Recruitment Scope
- 12,514 teachers at the higher secondary level of government-aided schools
- Marks Distribution
- Written test (60 marks), academic qualification (10 marks), teaching experience (10 marks), personal interview (10 marks), lecture demonstration (10 marks)
- Date of Higher Secondary Selection Test
- September 14
- Date of Secondary Level Selection Test
- September 7
- Court
- Calcutta High Court
