In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court of India has ruled that the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) is a mandatory requirement for school teachers seeking continuation in service or promotion.
The verdict, delivered by a bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Augustine George Masih, settles a long-standing debate over the applicability of TET to in-service educators.
The Court clarified that teachers who have five years or less remaining before retirement are exempt from qualifying for TET. However, those with more than five years left must pass the test or opt for voluntary retirement with terminal benefits.
The ruling stems from the 2010 guidelines issued by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), which made TET a minimum qualification for teaching Classes I to VIII.
The Court also referred to a larger bench the constitutional question of whether minority institutions can be mandated to follow TET norms.
This decision is expected to impact thousands of teachers across states where petitions had challenged the mandatory nature of TET for promotions and continued service.
