The Calcutta High Court has directed the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) to upload the OMR sheets of all candidates who appeared for the State Level Selection Test (SLST) 2025 for classes 9โ10 and 11โ12, saying the recruitment process must be transparent from the very beginning.
Justice Amrita Sinha, hearing petitions filed by candidates, said the Commission must ensure that โthe recruitment process is fair and transparent from the very first step to rule out any illegalityโ. The matter will be taken up again on December 10.
OMR Sheets to Be Made Public
The court instructed the WBSSC to place the OMR sheets of candidates in the public domain so that โnone has any complaint against any candidateโ. The direction applies to all candidates who took the SLST 2025 written examinations for teaching posts in government and government-aided schools.
List of Appointees After Panel Expiry Sought
Justice Sinha also asked the Commission to produce the list of candidates who were appointed after the expiry of the selection panels under the 2016 SLST.
According to the courtโs observations:
- The panel for classes 11โ12 expired in November 2018
- The panel for classes 9โ10 expired in March 2019
Appointments made after these dates, the court noted, have already been held illegal.
Petitioners Flag โTainted Candidatesโ in SLST 2025
The petitioners, represented by advocate Sudipto Dasgupta, appeared in the second SLST 2025. They said the results for classes 9โ10 were declared after those for classes 11โ12, and alleged that the names of โtainted candidatesโ appeared in both results lists.
Dasgupta argued that:
- Candidates appointed after the expiry of the 2016 panelโdeclared illegal and termed โtaintedโโwere still being allowed to participate in SLST 2025.
- The Supreme Court has already directed that no tainted candidate can take part in fresh recruitment, and if they โslip throughโ, their candidature must be cancelled after verification.
- The SSC has published a list of tainted candidates only on the basis of OMR mismatch, but not those appointed after the 2016 panel expired.
He urged the court to direct the WBSSC to categorise tainted candidates clearlyโwhether for rank manipulation, post-panel appointments, or other reasons.
Next Hearing on December 10
The court will resume hearing on December 10, when WBSSC is expected to produce the required lists and update the court on compliance with the directions.
