TET Case: Big Relief for Teachers, Supreme Court’s Interim Order in TET Mandatory Case

Tripura TET Case: There is big news of relief for the teachers of Tripura state from the Supreme Court. In an interim order in the case of making TET (Teacher Eligibility Test) mandatory, the apex court has stated that the teachers’ jobs will remain secure for now. This decision upholds the order of the Tripura High Court’s division bench, bringing smiles to the faces of thousands of teachers in the state.

Background of the Case

This case originated when the Tripura government decided to make the TET qualification mandatory for all teachers in the state. Many teachers went to court against this government decision. The division bench of the Tripura High Court ruled that TET is not mandatory for teachers appointed between September 3, 2001, and July 29, 2011. The Tripura government challenged this High Court verdict in the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court’s Directive

The case was heard in the Supreme Court by a bench of the Hon’ble Justice Dipankar Datta and the Hon’ble Justice Augustine George Masih. After the hearing on October 13, 2025, the court issued the following important directives:

• Jobs Secure for Now: The court has stated that, according to the Tripura High Court’s verdict, teachers appointed between 2001 and 2011 do not need to pass the TET for the time being. They cannot be removed from their jobs until the next hearing.
• Directive for Effective Service: The Supreme Court has directed the Tripura government to provide all necessary facilities and effective services to these teachers.
• Next Hearing of the Case: The next hearing for this case has been scheduled for November 19, 2025, at 2:00 PM.

Why is this Verdict Important?

This verdict brings a ray of hope not just for the teachers of Tripura, but for the entire teaching community across the country. Some important aspects of this verdict are:

• NCTE’s 2001 Guidelines: The court has accepted that the teachers appointed between 2001 and 2011 got their jobs according to the NCTE’s 2001 guidelines. Therefore, rules introduced later should not be applicable to them.
• Impact of Review Petitions: Several review petitions have been filed across the country regarding the mandatory TET verdict. The justices believe that the outcomes of those review petitions could also influence this case.
• Mental Relief for Teachers: This verdict has brought mental relief to thousands of teachers and their families. With the immediate uncertainty of their jobs gone, they can focus more on their work.

Next Steps

The Supreme Court has directed all parties in this case to submit their arguments in the form of affidavits. The respondents have to submit a counter-affidavit within the next two weeks, followed by a rejoinder affidavit. The court will issue a final verdict after hearing the arguments from both sides in the upcoming hearing.

For now, this interim order is a major victory for the teachers. It remains to be seen what direction the case will take in the future.