In a significant ruling,the Calcutta High Court’s division bench,led by Justices Soumen Sen adn Smita Das,has upheld the interim stay on supernumerary appointments in primary education,initially imposed by Justice Biswajit basu. This decision comes as a setback for the West Bengal government, which sought to fill additional vacancies in physical education and vocational training through a waiting list.
On May 7, Justice Basu’s bench issued a stay, asserting that no appointments could be made to these supernumerary positions at this time. The state had approached the division bench, arguing for the necessity of these appointments to address staffing shortages. However,the court’s ruling emphasizes the need for careful consideration before proceeding with such appointments,especially in light of previous controversies surrounding job cancellations affecting 26,000 positions.In December 2022, the High Court had already placed an interim stay on the creation of supernumerary posts, reflecting ongoing concerns about the state’s hiring practices. while the Supreme Court refrained from intervening in the state’s decision regarding supernumerary positions, the current ruling underscores the judiciary’s cautious approach to educational staffing issues. As the situation unfolds,stakeholders in West Bengal’s education sector will be closely monitoring the implications of this ruling on future hiring practices and the overall quality of education in the state.
