Ratan Debnath v. The State Of West Bengal And ORS

Item No.6 09.01.2026 Court. No. 2 GB CALCUTTA HIGH COURT

IN THE CIRCUIT BENCH AT JALPAIGURI

APPELLATE JURISDICTION WPA 2637 of 2025 Ratan Debnath VS The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Ms. Madhushri Dutta, Sk. Sahjahan Ali ... for the Petitioner Mr. Momenur Rahman, Mr. Nabankur Paul ... for the State.

1. Supplementary affidavit has been filed in Court today.

2. The petitioner prays for grant of higher scale of pay as a recognition of his master's degree in physics. Such claim is being made from the day following the last date of the examination of the master's degree. The petitioner's claim is based on a decision of the High Court in WPA 9921 of 2007.

3. The petitioner was an Assistant Teacher of Kholta High School. He was appointed as an Assistant Teacher in the subject of physics under pass Category on August 9, 2001. Thereafter, he was appointed as an Assistant Teacher in the subject of physics under honours/postgraduate category at Churabhander Bhelbhela High School.

4. The petitioner alleges that permission was granted by the appropriate authority to pursue the master's degree course and the petitioner completed such degree through distance mode, from Vinayaka Missions Univesity sometime in 2011.

comprehensive application has been filed before the District Inspector of Schools (S.E) on October 21, 2025.

5. Mr. Rahman, learned advocate submits that the claim of the petitioner is highly belated and may not be tenable. The institute from which the degree was obtained was not recognized by the State of West Bengal. The degree may not be treated as equivalent to a master's degree in West Bengal.

6. In any event, an application is pending before the District Inspector of Schools (S.E), Cooch Behar. The said authority is directed to dispose f the same in accordance with law within a period of eight weeks from date of communication of this order. An opportunity of hearing shall be given to the petitioner and the Head Master of the school or any other authority whose inputs may be relevant. reasoned order shall be passed and communicated within the aforementioned period.

7. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of.

8. Parties are directed to act on the basis of the server copy of this order.

(Shampa Sarkar, J.)