TET Mandatory: West Bengal SJM Clarifies Stance on Mandatory TET Ruling of Supreme Court

TET Mandatory: A recent Supreme Court judgment has caused widespread concern among in-service teachers, mandating the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for teachers appointed before a specific cut-off date. In this critical situation, Bhaskar Ghosh, the Convener of Sangrami Joutha Mancha, West Bengal clarified the organization’s position and future course of action through a Facebook Live session. He assured that the forum would continue to fight for the rights of all affected teachers through legal and democratic means.

The Judgment and Its Impact

Bhaskar Ghosh explained that the Supreme Court’s ruling affects all teachers whose recruitment notifications were issued before August 23, 2010. Due to delays in the appointment process, even teachers who joined as late as 2014 now fall under the purview of this judgment. According to the ruling, these teachers must pass the TET examination within the next two years, or they risk losing their jobs. This directive has thrown thousands of teachers in West Bengal and across the country into a state of profound uncertainty.

Sangrami Joutha Mancha’s Clear Stance

Sangrami Joutha Mancha has declared its firm opposition to this ruling. Bhaskar Ghosh stated, “We are formulating our strategy considering the welfare of all teachers, from primary to upper primary (Classes I to VIII).” The forum’s main objectives are:

• A Unified Fight: The platform will unite and fight for all teachers whose job notifications were published before August 23, 2010, irrespective of their joining year.
• A Nationwide Movement: Since this issue is not confined to West Bengal and affects teachers in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, a coordinated nationwide movement is being planned. Discussions with teacher organizations from other states have already commenced.
• Legal Action: Instead of directly filing a review petition, the forum is pursuing an alternative legal strategy. A strong legal team has been formed in consultation with renowned lawyers like Gopal Subramanium to safeguard the interests of the teachers by keeping legal avenues open.

Future Course of Action

Bhaskar Ghosh announced that the forum will advance its movement on two main fronts:

1. Democratic Protests: A blueprint for a nationwide movement will be created, uniting all affected teachers across the country.
2. Legal Battle: The case will be fought in the Supreme Court in a manner that ensures the arguments of teachers from all states are presented effectively and without any conflict.

He urged the teachers not to get divided into smaller groups and to remain united, as unity is the primary strength in this struggle. He reassured everyone that Sangrami Joutha Mancha will fight till the end to protect their rights.