Kolkata, December 3, 2025 - In a significant ruling with wide-reaching implications, the Calcutta High Court has overturned a previous order that would have scrapped the jobs of 32,000 primary school teachers in West Bengal. The division bench, consisting of Justices Tapabrata Chakraborty and Reetobroto Kumar Mitra, set aside the 2023 order issued by a single-judge bench, offering substantial relief to the teachers and the state government.
The initial order, delivered by Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay in May 2023, had terminated the appointments of these teachers based on alleged irregularities in the 2014 Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) recruitment process. Allegations of fraud and failure to adhere to recruitment rules were central to the case. Justice Gangopadhyay, who has since retired and become a BJP MP, had asserted that the jobs were "actually sold".
However, the division bench has now contested this assessment, stating that a thorough examination of the evidence did not conclusively prove systematic irregularities in all recruitments. The court also noted the potential adverse impact on the teachers and their families if they were to be dismissed after nearly a decade of service. The bench further stated that the investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) did not reveal evidence that all appointed candidates were involved in corrupt practices.
"The allegation of fraud and corruption pertaining to the entire recruitment process is not sustainable and the appointment of the 32,000 teachers cannot be interfered with," the bench of Justices Tapabrata Chakraborty and Reetobroto Mitra stated.
The ruling comes after a complex legal battle, with the Supreme Court having previously stayed the single-judge bench's order and referred the case back to the High Court for a final decision. The current verdict has brought an end to a six-month-long argument in the case, which concluded on November 12.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has welcomed the High Court's decision, describing it as a "humanitarian" relief for thousands of families. "We are happy with the court's order. It is a great relief that the jobs of these teachers are saved. We want to generate jobs and not take them away," Banerjee stated. Education Minister Bratya Basu also expressed his satisfaction, stating that "truth has triumphed".
The Calcutta High Court's decision has sparked varied reactions from different political factions. While the ruling Trinamool Congress celebrated the verdict, opposition leaders have criticized it. Leader of Opposition in the Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, maintained that Justice Gangopadhyay "did the right thing".
This is not the first instance of mass termination of teaching staff in West Bengal. In March 2025, the Supreme Court invalidated the appointments of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff in secondary schools due to irregularities in the recruitment process. These appointments were made after the State Level Selection Test conducted by the School Service Commission.
The Calcutta High Court's latest order provides relief to thousands of teachers and underscores the importance of due process and fair consideration in matters affecting livelihoods. The court has emphasized that dismissing teachers after years of service based on unsubstantiated claims of widespread corruption would be unjust.
