The Supreme Court had dismissed the entire 2016 panel of the SSC due to allegations of institutional corruption. Among the 17,206 people in that panel, 15,402 were 'unqualified'. The apex court had directed the state to reinstate those among them who were already working as teachers and education workers in various government departments, autonomous bodies, primary and secondary schools to their old jobs. Many have already returned to their old jobs or have been compelled to rejoin.
However, a section of primary school teachers have already received one extension based on applications. Even secondary school teachers and education workers have been compelled to rejoin their previous jobs despite applying for extensions.
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Responding to the application of the Board of Secondary Education, the apex court on Thursday extended the service tenure of the concerned 'qualified' teachers for another term until August 31, 2026. Consequently, what will happen to those primary and secondary teachers as well as education workers who have still not joined their old jobs from before 2016?
Extensions granted to some, uncertainty continues for others
A senior official of the School Education Department acknowledged this situation on Monday, saying, 'We are aware of this matter. If the applications of those who have lost their jobs and been dismissed have merit, extending their tenure in government jobs would be logical. However, we are discussing legal matters so that if everyone applies, they can remain in their 2016 jobs until new appointments.' Why are those who lost their jobs in this dilemma?
Binay Karmakar, a Group D employee at a school in Siuri, Birbhum, successfully passed the higher secondary examination in 2016 and joined as a political science teacher at a high school in Tarapith. As a qualified candidate, he successfully passed the SSC's new recruitment examination in 2025 and again participated in the interview-lecture demonstration on December 9.
However, he has already been compelled to join a Group D position at another school in the same district. In Binay's words, 'We want to continue in teaching jobs. Even after giving self-declaration to this effect, no one listened. The salary in Group D is less compared to teaching. There is significant financial loss. Due to frequent transfers, there are also concerns about job continuity, provident fund, and service book.'
However, Pankaj Roy, a political science teacher at Solaidanga High School in Malda, has a completely different experience. He got a teaching job at Ujirpur Primary in the Golapganj circle of the same district in 2017. The following year, in September 2018, he received an appointment letter from the SSC. After everyone's 2016 jobs were cancelled, Pankaj was supposed to return to Ujirpur Primary School again as per the Supreme Court's directive. Pankaj had also received that appointment letter on October 22.
But responding to his application, Malda DPSC has extended his tenure until December 31 of this year. Like Binay, Pankaj has also been successful in the SSC's new recruitment and has given the interview.
His application to the District Primary School Council is that his job tenure should be extended until August 31, following the apex court's verdict. Rupa Bhattacharya, who has passed the SSC examination four times, is also on the called for verification list for life sciences.
However, to comply with the Supreme Court's directive, the School Service Commission has already transferred her from Simlagad in Hooghly to a high school in Gangajalghat, Bankura. Her regret is, 'The Madrasa Service Commission conducted counselling for the 2016 qualified candidates for appointments in schools near their homes. But the SSC did not follow that path.'
