The West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) has suspended the counselling process for candidates seeking teaching posts at the Classes 11 and 12 level, throwing the recruitment process into fresh uncertainty.
The commission had earlier announced that counselling for candidates in 12 subjects would begin on August 14. However, a new notification issued on Tuesday night put the process on hold. The police verification of candidates who had already received recommendation letters has also been suspended.
The development means that the recruitment process has effectively come to a standstill, leaving thousands of candidates anxious about their appointments.
The SSC has, however, assured candidates that efforts are underway to resolve the issue at the earliest.
According to sources, the authorities are seeking legal advice over the implementation of OBC reservation in the recruitment process. Officials are reportedly concerned that proceeding without clarity could lead to further legal complications.
The immediate dispute centres on the applicable OBC reservation quota — whether it should be calculated at 17 per cent or 7 per cent.
SSC chairman Dushyant Nariwala said the decision was taken to ensure transparency in the recruitment process.
“Legal advice is being sought to ensure transparency in the recruitment process.”
He also indicated that the commission took the decision after receiving verification guidelines from the Backward Classes Welfare Department.
The move has already drawn criticism from sections of the teaching community. Some argue that since the recruitment process is being conducted in accordance with court directions, suspending it without seeking the court's permission could potentially amount to contempt of court.
The latest setback comes after years of legal and administrative complications surrounding teacher recruitment in Bengal.
In April 2025, the Supreme Court cancelled the entire 2016 SSC recruitment panel following allegations of institutional irregularities. Nearly 26,000 teachers and non-teaching employees lost their jobs as a result.
The Supreme Court initially allowed eligible employees to continue working with salaries until December 31, 2025, and later extended the deadline to August 31, 2026. The state was also directed to complete a fresh recruitment process within the stipulated period.
The SSC conducted the fresh teacher recruitment examination in September 2025, with results announced later that year. However, the recruitment process has progressed slowly.
For Classes 9 and 10, only document verification has been completed so far, while interviews for most subjects are yet to take place. The recruitment process for Classes 11 and 12 had progressed further, but candidates have still not received appointment letters and joined schools.
Of the 33 subjects at the Classes 11 and 12 level, counselling for 21 subjects has already been completed. Candidates have received recommendation letters, while police verification has been completed for some of them.
The verification of documents for 365 candidates was scheduled to begin on Wednesday, August 12. That process has now also been suspended.
Meanwhile, counselling for the remaining 12 subjects, scheduled to begin on August 14, has been put on hold.
The uncertainty has raised concerns about whether the state will be able to meet the August 31 deadline set by the Supreme Court.
Schools Face Fresh Teacher Shortage
The timing of the latest suspension has triggered concern over a potential shortage of teachers in schools once the August 31 deadline expires.
Candidates who failed to qualify in the 2025 recruitment examination face the loss of their existing jobs, while even those who successfully cleared the fresh examination remain unable to join because of the stalled appointment process.
School Education Minister Dipak Barman and SSC chairman Dushmant Naruiwala have indicated that the state may approach the court again if additional time is required.
The commission has also assured candidates that regular notifications will be published on its website to keep them informed and reduce confusion.
The suspension has caused particular anxiety among a section of teachers who lost their jobs following the cancellation of the 2016 panel and subsequently cleared the fresh recruitment examination.
Many of them had waited nearly a decade for an opportunity to return to teaching and were hoping to resume work after receiving new appointment letters.
Mehboob Mondal of the Jogya Shikshak-Shikshika Adhikar Mancha said:
“The problem can be resolved if the government fulfils the commitments made by Suvendu Adhikari before the elections. Teachers from the 2016 panel who were eligible and had no involvement in any wrongdoing are being punished.”
Teachers Warn of Further Legal Complications
Sections of the teaching community see the latest development as a warning sign that the OBC reservation dispute could create another prolonged legal battle.
Teachers' organisations fear that if the 7 per cent reservation formula is applied and candidates are subsequently removed from the new panel, fresh litigation could follow. That, they argue, could delay the recruitment process even further.
Swapan Mondal, general secretary of the Banga Teachers and Education Workers Association, said:
“The government is not fulfilling the promises made to teachers before coming to power. Instead, it is taking the opposite position. The government must clearly state its position.”
Animesh Haldar, secretary of the South 24 Parganas district unit of the Madhyamik Teachers and Education Workers Association, said the government would likely have to seek additional time from the court.
“Given the present situation, the government will have to approach the court again for more time. But that cannot be a permanent solution. Not only eligible teachers, but new candidates who appeared for the examination are also likely to be deprived. We want a permanent solution.”
With the August 31 deadline approaching, the latest OBC reservation dispute has added another layer of uncertainty to Bengal's already protracted teacher recruitment process. For thousands of candidates, the immediate question is no longer simply when they will receive appointment letters, but whether the recruitment process can be completed before the current legal deadline expires.
