By TC News Desk
Agartala, 8th January 2026: A delegation of the Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh (ABRSM) met today with the Union Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, at the Ministry of Education, Government of India, and submitted a detailed memorandum regarding the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s judgment dated 01.09.2025 in Civil Appeal No. 1385/2015 concerning the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET).
The delegation expressed serious concern over making TET mandatory for all in-service teachers irrespective of their date of appointment, stating that if the judgment is applied retrospectively, it could adversely affect the service security, seniority, promotions, and livelihood of nearly 1.2 million teachers across the country.
The delegation drew the attention of the Union Education Minister to the fact that the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) Notification dated 23.08.2010 clearly states that the minimum qualifications for teachers of Classes I to VIII would be effective from the date of the notification, and that teachers appointed prior to this date were exempt from TET. The Mahasangh submitted that applying the judgment retrospectively to experienced teachers who were appointed under valid academic and professional qualifications prevailing at that time would be unjust.
The Mahasangh requested the Union Education Minister to kindly intervene to ensure that the judgment is implemented only prospectively, to protect the seniority, dignity, and legitimate expectations of teachers appointed prior to the notification, and to initiate necessary legal and administrative measures to prevent possible termination of services and denial of promotions.
On this occasion, the delegation welcomed the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill and appreciated its objectives, while also presenting certain important suggestions for improvement to make the Bill more effective, inclusive, and practical. In addition, detailed memorandum highlighting various long-pending issues related to higher education and school education was also submitted to the Hon’ble Minister.
After carefully examining and understanding the documents and facts presented by the organization in relation to TET, the Union Education Minister directed the Chairperson of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and the concerned officials to take appropriate and necessary action in the matter. He also assured that the issues raised would be examined with a balanced and positive approach, while ensuring quality in education and safeguarding the interests of teachers and educational institutions.
The ABRSM delegation comprised Prof. Narayan Lal Gupta, President; Prof. Geeta Bhatt, General Secretary; Mahendra Kapoor, Organisation Secretary; G. Laxman, Joint Organisation Secretary; Mahendra Kumar, Senior Vice President; Shivanand Sindhankera, In-charge, School Education; Prof. Mahendra Shrimali, Convenor, NIT Teachers’ Forum; Hanumant Rao, President, ABRSM Telangana Unit (TPUS); and Kandasami, General Secretary, Desiya Asriyar Sangam, Tamil Nadu unit of the Mahasangh.
