Shillong: The Supreme Court has rejected a request to exempt teachers appointed before August 23, 2010, from taking the Teacher Eligibility Test. While denying the exemption, the court granted teachers more time to comply, extending the deadline to August 31, 2028.
Justices Dipankar Dutta and Manmohan ruled that the retrospective requirement is mandated by 2017 amendments to the Right to Education Act. The court clarified that these legislative changes require all educators appointed up to March 31, 2015, to qualify for the examination per the 2010 National Council for Teacher Education notification.
Aristotle C. Rymbai, president of the Meghalaya SSA School Association, confirmed the ruling followed a review petition filed by the organization. The association had originally argued that the test requirement should not apply retroactively and requested a longer timeline for teachers to meet the standards.
Under the new court order, only teachers scheduled to retire within the next five years receive an exemption. All other in-service teachers, including those aiming for promotions, must pass the examination to remain in compliance. The decision affects numerous educators nationwide, as the court reviewed over 65 petitions from various states and teachers groups regarding the matter.
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