Puspanjali Ghosh v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

S/L 12 16.12.2025 Court No.17 SD

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION WPA 28233 of 2025 Puspanjali Ghosh Vs.

The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Bidhan Biswas ... for the Petitioner.

Mr. Supriyo Chattopadhyay, Ld AGP Ms. Sayantanee Bhattacharjee ... for the State.

Md. Sarwar Jahan Ms. Mousumi Mitra Ms. Tapati Sarkar Ms. Shalini Sen Ms. Sahina Parvin ... for the Mission Director.

Affidavit of service filed on behalf of the petitioner be kept with the record.

The petitioner was engaged as Sahayika in Rampur Sukanta Colony Sishu Sikha Kendra.

The Government of West Bengal, by a notification bearing No. 979-ES/EE/10M-164/19 dated December 18, 2019, had transferred the administrative control of the Sishu Sikha Kendra(SSK) from Panchayat and Rural Development Department to the School Education Department and had invited option from the Sahayaks/ Sahayikas of SSKs for treating them as para teachers of Paschimbanga Samagra Sikha Mission.

The petitioner had exercised the said option but the Government of West Bengal, in terms of the said notification, had failed to extend the benefit of para teachers to the Sahayaks/ Sahayikas.

The petitioner in the meantime has crossed the age of 60 years i.e. the age of superannuation of a para-teacher. The petitioner is now praying that she may be allowed to revert to the post of Sahayika so that she can continue her service as such till the age of 65 years. In view of the judgment of the Co-ordinate Bench in W.P.A No. 8271 of 2022 (MD. SULTAN SAIKH & ORS vs. THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL & ORS.), the issue

whether the petitioner can be reverted to her original post of Sahayika is no longer res integra.

The petitioner, therefore, is permitted to continue as Sahayika in the said Sishu Sikha Kendra till she attains the age of 65 years, it is however made clear that the petitioner would not be entitled to claim any financial or other benefit of a Para-Teacher.

The concerned B.D.O. shall pass necessary direction for re-joining of the petitioner within seven days from the date of communication of this order.

The petitioner, after retirement, since has not rendered any service to the said Sishu Sikha Kendra, she is not entitled to any remuneration for the said period but such absence shall not be construed as discontinuation of her service as Sahayika.

WPA 28233 of 2025 is thus disposed of with the above terms without any order as to costs.

Urgent Photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties, subject to compliance of all requisite formalities.

(Biswajit Basu, J.)