Teachers’ Eligibility Test Mandatory to Continue in Service:Supreme court

In a significant judgment delivered on September 1, 2025, the Supreme Court has made the Teachers' Eligibility Test (TET), including KTET in Kerala, a mandatory qualification for both new appointments and in-service teachers (Classes I to VIII) in government and aided non-minority schools. The ruling has specific conditions and affects thousands of teachers in Kerala. 

DOWNLOAD JUDGEMENT IN CIVIL APPEAL NO 1385/2025(ANJUMAN ISHAAT E TALEEM

 TRUST VS THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA)

Key Directives of the Supreme Court Judgment

• Mandatory for New Appointments: All new teachers appointed after the RTE Act (2009) and the NCTE notification (2010) must possess the relevant KTET/CTET qualification at the time of recruitment. The previous practice in Kerala of allowing teachers to qualify after appointment is no longer valid.
• In-Service Teachers (More than 5 years of service left): Teachers in this category must pass the KTET within two years (by September 1, 2027) to continue in service. Failure to do so will result in compulsory retirement with terminal benefits.
• In-Service Teachers (Less than 5 years of service left): These teachers are exempted from the mandatory KTET requirement to continue in their current roles until retirement. However, they will not be eligible for promotions without qualifying the TET.
• Promotions: The KTET qualification is a mandatory requirement for any promotion, regardless of when the teacher was initially appointed or their remaining service period.
• Higher Qualifications are not Substitutes: The Court clarified that higher academic qualifications like NET, SET, M.Ed., or Ph.D. cannot be considered as substitutes for the KTET, as the test assesses pedagogy and teaching aptitude, which are distinct from academic knowledge.
• Minority Institutions: The judgment specifically exempts minority institutions from the mandatory KTET requirement, as per existing constitutional provisions, but the question of whether this exemption should continue has been referred to a larger bench for review.