West Bengal SLST Exam: Home Tutor Arrested for Fake News Gets Court Permission to Appear
Image via IANS
Ghatal, Sep 6 (TTP) – A day before the crucial State Level Selection Test (SLST) for teacher recruitment in West Bengal, police arrested a 30-year-old home tutor for allegedly spreading fake news on social media about a question paper leak. The accused, identified as Arindam Pal, was sent to three-day police custody on Saturday. However, the court ruled that he will be allowed to appear for the exam, scheduled on Sunday, under police surveillance.
Court’s Balancing Act: Custody but Exam Access
The Ghatal Subdistrict Court ordered that Pal remain in police custody until September 9, but emphasized that his rights as a candidate must not be violated.
The order stated that:
- Police must ensure Pal can sit for the SLST exam.
- He will take the exam under police escort and supervision.
This unusual ruling reflects the judiciary’s attempt to balance law enforcement with the principle of not depriving an examinee of educational opportunities.
Arrest Over Fake Facebook Post
Pal, a resident of Mangrul Gram Panchayat in Chandrakona, West Midnapore district, was arrested late Friday night. According to police, he posted on Facebook claiming that someone had offered him the SLST question paper in exchange for ₹14 lakh.
Investigators said the claim was fabricated. Police believe the motive was to create panic and disrupt the teacher recruitment exam, which is being conducted by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC).
The West Midnapore district police alleged that Pal is politically affiliated and has used his social media accounts to post anti-government messages. Screenshots of his profile also indicate his closeness to the BJP, police said.
Political Context and Ongoing Tensions
The arrest comes amid heightened political tensions around the SLST exam. On Friday, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged that a racket in North 24 Parganas district was selling exam question papers for ₹50,000 each.
These allegations follow years of controversy around teacher recruitment in the state. In 2016, the Supreme Court cancelled the entire SSC panel after exposing large-scale corruption in the process. As a result, over 26,000 teachers and non-teaching staff lost their jobs.
To rebuild credibility, the WBSSC announced fresh SLST exams on September 7 and 14, in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive. The commission has said that strict security measures are in place to prevent leaks or malpractice.
Why This Matters
The SLST exam is seen as a test not just for thousands of aspiring teachers, but also for the credibility of West Bengal’s recruitment process. Any controversy around leaks or disruptions risks further eroding public trust in the system.
For candidates, many of whom have waited years for a transparent recruitment process, the stakes are especially high. The court’s decision to allow Pal to appear under police watch highlights how sensitive and scrutinized this recruitment process has become.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
West Bengal’s SLST exam carries the weight of restoring confidence after years of corruption scandals. The arrest of an examinee for spreading misinformation shows how volatile the atmosphere remains. While police probe whether Pal acted alone or as part of a larger attempt to disrupt the exam, the incident underscores the urgent need for transparency and security in recruitment tests.
For thousands of candidates, Sunday’s exam is not just about a job opportunity—it is about faith in a fair system.