Supreme Court on WBSSC Scam: TMC Under Fire as 1,804 Tainted Candidates Exposed

West Bengal, Cash for Jobs Scam
The Supreme Court’s blistering rebuke of the West Bengal administration, describing how systemic manipulation in the 2016 State Level Test Selection (SLST) appointments has “adversely impacted the lives of thousands” of students and aspirants; set off a chain of events that ended this month with the School Service Commission (SSC) publishing a list of 1,804 candidates it says were appointed through a vitiated process.
Significantly, the Court reiterated its earlier order (August 21, 2025) that untainted teachers already appointed and allowed to continue till December 31, 2025, will be permitted to sit for the fresh selection process. Importantly, they will not be compelled to meet the new eligibility norm of securing 50% marks in graduation or post-graduation under the SSC’s 2025 rules.
The Court further extended the application window by ten days, directing that if any eligible candidate faced technical difficulties, they could file physical applications till September 2, 2025.
Rejecting demands for a deferment, the Court observed that SSC had already arranged for the tests on September 7 (Classes IX-X) and September 14 (Classes XI-XII). “No postponement is warranted at this stage,” the Bench said, clarifying that its earlier observation about deferring the process “need not be acted upon.”
The Court also took note of SSC’s assurance that none of the tainted candidates, whose names were placed in the public domain as per earlier orders, would be allowed to appear. Even if some managed to slip through, the SSC’s August 25 notice allowing post-exam scrutiny would ensure their disqualification.
Furthermore, the Court emphasized that these assurances, recorded in its order, would be binding on the SSC.
Sequence of events in the WBSSC matter:
Justice Saugata Bhattacharya dismissed the plea, noting that the issue is already pending before the Supreme Court. On the request to allow them to take the exam, the judge remarked, “There is a limit to everything,” adding that it was not possible for the High Court to examine the documents of over 1,800 candidates.
During the hearing, when told that the teachers had already been barred from schools, the Court questioned why they had approached the Bench only at the last moment. The judge observed that the Supreme Court had earlier passed orders against them and asked why no legal steps were taken then. Counsel for the petitioners argued that this was the first time such a list had been formally published, but the court declined to grant any relief.
Case Title: Rehana Begum & Ors. v. The State of West Bengal & Ors. and connected matters.
Order Date: August 29, 2025
Bench: Justice PV Sanjay Kumar and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma