However, the Court has granted a final extension of time until August 31, 2028, for teachers to obtain the required qualification.
A bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Manmohan dismissed more than 65 review petitions filed by various teacher associations challenging the earlier judgment.
With this decision, the Court has reaffirmed its earlier stance that TET qualification is essential under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act).
Why TET is Mandatory
The Court emphasized that the RTE Act aims to ensure quality education for children, which requires properly qualified teachers. It observed that maintaining educational standards is not possible without minimum teaching qualifications, including TET.
According to the ruling, all in-service teachers who have not yet qualified must clear the TET exam on or before August 31, 2028. The Court clearly stated that this will be the final extension, and no further relaxation will be granted.
Teachers failing to meet this requirement after the deadline will not be allowed to continue in service.
Review Petitions Rejected
The Supreme Court rejected review petitions filed in 2025 seeking reconsideration of the earlier judgment. This reinforces the Court's position that TET qualification is compulsory for continued employment in teaching positions.
Directions to State Governments
The Court also directed state governments and education departments to conduct the TET examination at least twice a year. This is to ensure that teachers get sufficient opportunities to qualify within the extended timeline.
With this ruling, TET has become a mandatory qualification for all in-service teachers across India. The Supreme Court has made it clear that after August 31, 2028, teachers without TET qualification will not be allowed to continue in their roles.