Eligibility criteria for teachers' recruitment must be strictly adhered to, with applications accepted only if submitted within prescribed deadlines, considering holidays.

Mr. Ritwik Basu For the Respondent No.14 : Mr. Krishna Pada Santra For the School Authority : Mr. Kamalesh Bhattacharyya Mr. Aninda Bhattacharya For the State : Mr. Shamim Ul Bari Ms. Ratna Das Heard on : 11.07.2025 Judgment on : 11.07.2025 SAUGATA BHATTACHARYYA, J.:

1) Affidavit of service filed on behalf of the petitioner is taken on record.

2) Petitioner questions selection of respondent no. 14 for the post of Assistant Teacher of Work Education in St.

Gabriel’s High School (HS), South 24 Parganas (hereinafter referred to as “said school”).

3) Learned advocate representing the petitioner submits in reference to advertisement dated 7^th September, 2022 that requisite qualification for filling up post of Assistant Teacher in Work Education was Graduate and B.Ed. It is submitted that respondent no. 14 was selected to be appointed as Assistant Teacher in Work Education in said school but on the date of advertisement on 7^th September, 2022 respondent no. 14 did not have requisite qualification that is B.Ed. It is further submitted that on relaxation of requisite qualification of B.Ed. for unknown reason respondent no. 14 was selected to be appointed as Assistant Teacher in Work Education.

4) Another limb of submission made on behalf of the petitioner is denial of right of the petitioner by said school authority to participate in the selection process for filling up the post of Assistant Teacher in Work Education. It is submitted in terms of advertisement dated 7^th September, 2022 on 16^th September, 2022 application was made by the petitioner expressing willingness to participate in the selection process and same was received by said school authority on 20th September, 2022. It is also submitted that in between 7^th September, 2022 and 17^th September, 2022 there were three holidays, therefore, ten working days within which a candidate was required to apply ended on 20^th September, 2022 (17^th September, 2022 plus three days). According to the petitioner, she ought to have been permitted to participate in the selection process having requisite educational qualification.

5) Mr. Bhattacharya, learned advocate representing said school authority submits that the eligible candidate was required to apply within ten working days to be counted from date of advertisement on 7^th September, 2022 meaning thereby last date of making application was 17th September, 2022. If petitioner’s application reached office of said school on 20^th September, 2022 that is beyond the time stipulated in the advertisement.

6) Submission has also been made on behalf of said school authority to justify steps taken by said school authority to prepare the panel wherein respondent no. 14 was placed at the top. According to said school authority, respondent no. 14 was possessing B.Tech. qualification on the date of advertisement and subsequently obtained B.Ed. qualification in 2023 which made him eligible to be considered for the post of Assistant Teacher in Work Education . It is submitted that written examination was held on 15^th December, 2024, prior thereto respondent no.

14 obtained B.Ed. qualification in 2023. Therefore, there is no illegality in selecting respondent no. 14 for the post of Assistant Teacher in Work Education.

7) Mr. Bari, learned advocate representing State respondents submits that approval of appointment was granted by the District Inspector of Schools (SE), South 24 Parganas vide memo dated 27^th December, 2024 considering B.Tech. and B.Ed. qualifications of respondent no. 14.

8) While considering the issue, it appears that indisputably advertisement was made by said school authority on 7th September, 2022 fixing ten