Supreme Court: TET Mandatory for Teachers to Continue in Service
The Supreme Court has held that passing the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) is a compulsory condition for teachers to continue in service or to be considered for promotions.
A Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih, however, gave partial relief to those nearing retirement. Teachers who have less than five years left before superannuation will be allowed to continue without clearing TET. On the other hand, those with more than five years of service left must qualify the test. If they fail, they can either resign or opt for compulsory retirement with all terminal benefits.
The Court also highlighted a significant constitutional question – whether States can impose TET as a requirement for teachers in minority institutions, and how such a mandate may impact the rights of minorities. This issue has now been referred to a larger Bench for detailed consideration.
The ruling came while hearing petitions from Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Notably, the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) had, in 2010, prescribed minimum qualifications for teachers of Classes I to VIII, including the introduction of TET as a standard benchmark.
