TET Mandatory: Big News for Teachers! Supreme Court to Decide on Mandatory TET Tomorrow

TET Mandatory: Tomorrow, October 13, 2025, the Supreme Court of India is set to hear a crucial case concerning the mandatory implementation of the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). The future of thousands of teachers hangs on this verdict. This case challenges a prior judgment by the Tripura High Court and has the potential to significantly alter the Supreme Court’s September 1, 2025, ruling that made TET mandatory.

Background of the Case

The case originated from a directive issued by the Tripura government. On September 30, 2021, the Samagra Shiksha Mission, Tripura, issued a notification stating that all teachers who had not yet passed the TET must do so. This directive jeopardized the jobs of many teachers appointed between 2004 and 2010, as TET was not a requirement at the time of their recruitment.

Following this, the affected teachers approached the Tripura High Court. After a prolonged hearing, on July 16, 2024, the Division Bench of the Tripura High Court delivered a landmark judgment.

Tripura High Court’s Verdict

In its verdict, the Tripura High Court ruled that TET is not mandatory for teachers who were appointed between 2001 and 2011. The court observed that the 2001 regulations of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) did not mention TET. The requirement was introduced only after the Right to Education (RTE) Act came into effect in 2010.

The High Court further stated that applying this new rule retroactively to teachers who have been in service for a long time is not reasonable. The court directed the state government to secure the jobs of these teachers and provide them with all due benefits.

Supreme Court Hearing

Challenging this verdict, the Tripura state government filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court. The hearing is scheduled for tomorrow before the bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Augustine George Masih. Notably, this is the same bench that delivered the September 1, 2025, judgment making TET mandatory, which makes tomorrow’s hearing highly significant.

If the Supreme Court upholds the Tripura High Court’s decision, it will bring relief to thousands of teachers across the country who have been working for years without a TET qualification. However, if the Supreme Court overturns the High Court’s verdict, the future of these teachers will be uncertain.

What is the Future for Teachers?

Currently, all teacher associations and the education community are eagerly awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision. They are hopeful that the court will make a compassionate decision, considering the long years of service and experience of these teachers. The verdict in this case could also serve as an important precedent for teachers in West Bengal and other states facing similar situations.