The West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) released a list of allegedly tainted candidates—those implicated in the 2016 recruitment scam—on August 30, 2025. It includes 1,804 names, fewer than earlier estimates of around 5200. The Times of India.
1. The Numbers Don’t Add Up (Quite Seamlessly)
The reduction from ~5200 to 1,804 isn’t just a statistical quirk. Stakeholders and petitioners noticed the discrepancy, with questions raised about why the commission’s stated figure didn’t match what’s in the publication WB Pay.
2. Missing Context Makes the List Feel Hollow
WBPAY flagged a lack of critical information: there’s no mention of the subject they taught, whether they were from grades 9–10 or 11–12, or the type of corruption (OMR manipulation, fake appointments, etc.) involved WB Pay+1. Without these details, it’s like having suspects’ names with no clue about their alleged misdeeds.
3. Legality Meets Ambiguity
The Supreme Court and Calcutta High Court have been crystal-clear: the 2016 panel was fraught with systemic fraud and must be scrapped, and tainted candidates barred from fresh recruitment The Times of India+14. The HCs were particularly scathing, warning that re-admitting such candidates would betray meritocracy and undercut institutional integrity The Times of India+
But the SSC and state argued that denying them a second chance might amount to double punishment, given they’ve already faced job termination and salary recovery The Times of India+4Bhaskar English+4The Times of India+4.
A Playful Verdict: Is the Tainted List… Tainted?
If you mean “tainted” as in blemished by flaws or opacity, then yes—there’s an undeniable fuzziness:
- The numbers are slippery.
- Vital details (curricular role, level, nature of misconduct) are glaringly absent.
- Without context, the list feels like an unfinished sketch, not a full portrait.
But if “tainted” refers to intentional corruption or deception in the publication, so far, there isn’t solid evidence of that. The SSC complied with the court directive by publishing the list—but could have done so more transparently.
Table of Clarity (Sweet Structure Without the Stiffness)
| Aspect | Status |
|---|---|
| List Released | Yes (1,804 names on August 30, 2025) The Times of India+3Hindustan Times+3The Week+3 |
| Numbers Discrepancy | Yes (~5200 vs 1,804) WB PayThe Times of India |
| Missing Contextual Details | Yes (subject, level, type of fraud missing) WB Pay |
| Legal Clarity | Clear—SC/HC ordered, courts barred tainted candidates The Times of India+1 |
| SSC’s Legal Pushback | Yes—argued double jeopardy The Times of India+1 |
Final Sip of Reflection
The published list is a step toward judicial compliance—but its gaps make it feel incomplete, even awkwardly staged. In the spirit of curious investigation, the list is more murky than molten, more puzzle piece than polished portrait.
The world’s strange, theatre-like, and layered. This list doesn’t fully illuminate, but it does set the stage for further accountability. The real heat of the story is how this ripples through fresh recruitment, the teachers’ protests, and future reforms.
