TET Mandatory: Supreme Court Hearing Today – Will In-Service Teachers Get Relief?

TET Mandatory: Is passing the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) mandatory for in-service teachers to retain their jobs and get promotions? This single question has become a major source of concern for lakhs of teachers across the country. The anxiety stems from a Supreme Court ruling on September 1st. Today, Monday (17 November 2025), a very crucial hearing on this matter is scheduled in the apex court, with the entire education sector, including West Bengal, keenly watching.

While the West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBBPE) has filed a review petition against this verdict, a teachers’ association from Uttar Pradesh has directly challenged the ruling through a writ petition.

Key Aspects of Today’s Hearing

The case today has been filed by the ‘United Teachers’ Association’ of Uttar Pradesh. This is not a review petition but a fresh Writ Petition. According to the Supreme Court’s list, the case is slated for hearing at serial number 8. The petitioners are fighting their legal battle primarily on two main arguments:

• Rules at the Time of Appointment: The teachers argue that when they were appointed, there was no condition of passing TET. So why should a new rule be imposed retrospectively on an old job, making TET compulsory now?
• Legal Challenge: The petitioners have challenged a 2017 amendment by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and certain sections of the Right to Education Act.

This case has been filed against the Union of India, NCTE, and the Uttar Pradesh government. The applicants believe that even if this petition is dismissed, they will still have the opportunity to approach a Larger Bench.

Background of the Case and West Bengal’s Situation

At the heart of this controversy is the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment of September 1, 2025. That verdict clearly stated that passing TET is mandatory to continue in service and for promotions.

• The September 1st Directive: The court ordered that all in-service teachers with more than five years of service remaining must pass the TET.
• State’s Action: As per reports, following this verdict, the West Bengal Board of Primary Education filed a review petition in the Supreme Court in the interest of the working teachers. The Board’s aim was to get the verdict reconsidered and provide relief to the state’s teachers.
• Confusion over Data Collection: Prior to this, a directive from the board to collect teacher data at the district level had created widespread confusion and anxiety among educators.

Why is Today Significant?

Today’s writ petition hearing is extremely significant. This is because it is the first major case after the September 1st judgment that directly questions the legal basis and rationale of that ruling. The outcome or observations from today’s hearing could also influence the future course of West Bengal’s review petition. Therefore, thousands of teachers across the country are looking forward to today’s hearing. We will publish the detailed updates of the hearing as soon as they are available.