3 min readKolkataUpdated: Dec 3, 2025 05:44 PM IST
The bench noted that the CBI had identified irregularities in respect of 264 candidates who received grace marks, and 96 candidates who did not secure qualifying marks. These 96 candidates were terminated but continue in service pursuant to a Supreme Court order. (Credit: Unsplash)
In a major relief to primary teachers recruited through the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) 2014, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday set aside a 2023 single bench orderthat had cancelled the jobs of around 32,000 teachers.
A division bench of Justices Tapabrata Chakraborty and Reetobrata Kumar Mitra held that while allegations of corruption had surfaced in the 2014 TET process conducted by the West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBBPE), the material on record did not justify the mass termination of teachers who have served for nearly a decade.
“There must have been a possibility of systemic malice, assessment of data doesn’t point to the same… A job taken away after nine years of service would cause insurmountable difficulty,” the bench said.
The judges observed that courts must distinguish between proven cases of large-scale fraud and unproven allegations of corruption, adding that services cannot be terminated merely on the basis of pending criminal proceedings unless clear findings of wrongdoing exist.
The single bench, then led by Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay (now a BJP Lok Sabha MP), had cancelled the appointments. Summarising its findings, the division bench noted: “No aptitude test was held… there was no formal engagement letter for acting as an interviewer, nor any guideline for awarding marks. The marks given to candidates against the aptitude test is a wholly illegal and false exercise… Such assessment reveals extraneous factors including corruption, as has now come to light with the investigation of the CBI and ED… jobs were actually sold to tainted candidates who had the money to purchase employment.”
However, the bench held that these observations did not justify cancelling all appointments. “It is not a case that instructions were given to the examiner to give higher marks, or that candidates who paid money had been given higher marks in the interview. A group of unsuccessful candidates should not be allowed to damage the entire system, and more so, innocent teachers would also suffer economic loss and stigma. The service of the appointees cannot also be terminated only on the basis of an ongoing criminal proceeding,” the court said.
The bench noted that the CBI had identified irregularities in respect of 264 candidates who received grace marks, and 96 candidates who did not secure qualifying marks. These 96 candidates were terminated but continue in service pursuant to a Supreme Court order. “The allegation of fraud and corruption pertaining to the entire recruitment process is not sustainable,” the bench held.
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Former Justice Gangopadhyay’s 2023 order was initially challenged before a division bench led by the present Meghalaya High Court Chief Justice Soumen Sen, who recused himself. The matter was then placed before the current bench, which began hearings in April 2025.
Reacting to the verdict, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “We respect the judicial process. I am happy that our brothers and sisters have got their jobs back.”
Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage.
Experience
Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness.
Geographical Expertise: Provides focused, in-depth coverage of West Bengal, demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the state's news and political nuances.
Core Authority: Her reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial, often sensitive, beats, including:
State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies.
Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues.
Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE).
Social & Electoral Issues: Covering public events, community tensions (e.g., religious/political gatherings), and election-related processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.
Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read More
