Calcutta High Court Mandates Transparency in School Recruitment
In a significant move towards ensuring transparency, the Calcutta High Court has issued a crucial directive to the West Bengal Central School Service Commission. Justice Amrita Sinha on Thursday ordered the commission to upload all Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets of candidates who appeared for the second School Level Selection Test (SLST) into the public domain.
Court's Directive to Rule Out Illegal Practices
The court emphasized that this measure is essential "to rule out any illegality" in the recruitment process. This decision comes amid growing concerns about the fairness of the selection procedure for teaching positions in West Bengal schools.
During the proceedings, senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee, representing the commission, made an important submission. "Every candidate was given their own OMR sheets this time," he stated, highlighting the commission's efforts towards transparency. However, the court found it necessary to take additional steps to ensure complete fairness.
Expired Panels and Appointment Lists
The court also directed the WBCSSC to produce a comprehensive list of candidates who received appointments after the expiration of the 2016 SLST panel. According to official submissions, the panel for classes 9-10 expired on November 27, 2018, while the panel for classes 11-12 expired on March 12, 2019.
Justice Sinha observed that since the recruitment process is being conducted in compliance with Supreme Court directives, the commission must ensure that the procedure remains "fair and transparent from step one." This underscores the judiciary's commitment to maintaining integrity in public recruitment processes.
Advocate General Kishore Datta requested the court to allow the ongoing selection process to continue, suggesting that "these cases can be taken up subsequently." However, the court maintained its stance on immediate transparency measures.
Supreme Court Deadline Looms
The proceedings also revealed that the Supreme Court has set December 31 as the deadline to complete the selection process. This time constraint adds urgency to the matter, requiring the commission to balance efficiency with transparency.
This landmark decision is expected to set a precedent for how recruitment processes are conducted in educational institutions across the state. By making OMR sheets publicly accessible, the court aims to eliminate any doubts about the selection process and restore public confidence in the system.
