New Turn in Teachers’ TET Mandatory Case: Possibility of Open Hearing Through Writ Petition

TET Mandatory: The teachers’ Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) case has recently taken a new turn. For the first time, a Writ Petition has been filed in the Supreme Court, creating the possibility of the case being heard in an open court (Open Hearing). This development has added a new dimension to the case, sparking fresh speculation about its future.

Review Petition vs. Writ Petition

Previously, multiple Review Petitions were filed in this case. However, hearings for review petitions are typically conducted in the judges’ closed chambers, where lawyers from either side do not have the opportunity to be present. Consequently, the scope for presenting new information or arguments is limited.

But the situation is different with a Writ Petition. The hearing for a writ petition takes place in an open court, where lawyers for both parties get the chance to present their arguments. This creates a significant opportunity to introduce new facts and reasoning into the case.

Case Background

On September 1, 2025, the Supreme Court delivered a verdict regarding the teachers’ TET. Several review petitions were filed against this verdict. Notable among them are:

• Uttar Pradesh Government Basic Education Department
• All India Primary Teachers’ Federation
• United Teachers’ Association, Uttar Pradesh
• Akhil Jharkhand Primary Teachers’ Union
• Petition from West Bengal by Bela Saha and others

The Significance of the Writ Petition

A writ petition is accepted only when the court believes that a verdict has infringed upon someone’s fundamental rights. In this instance, the acceptance of the writ petition has opened the door for an open court hearing. This will allow lawyers to present their arguments before the judges and provide an opportunity for a detailed discussion on various aspects of the case.

Future Steps

As of now, no hearing date has been scheduled. However, it is expected that the hearing will commence soon. This hearing will be extremely crucial as the future of many teachers depends on its outcome. An open court hearing will ensure greater transparency in the proceedings, and both parties will have an equal opportunity to present their case. This writ petition has brought a new ray of hope for the teachers. It now remains to be seen which direction the case takes following the open court hearing.