Meghalaya Govt to Challenge Supreme Court’s TET Mandate for In-Service Teachers

Shillong: Meghalaya Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui announced that the state government will file a review petition in the Supreme Court to exempt in-service teachers appointed before the Right to Education (RTE) Act and NCTE guidelines from the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET).

The move follows the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Anjuman Ishaat-e-Taleem Trust vs Maharashtra case, which requires all teachers of Classes I to VIII—including those already in service—to pass the TET within two years to retain their jobs and qualify for promotions.

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Rymbui warned that the judgment, with its retrospective effect, threatens the livelihoods of over 32,000 teachers in Meghalaya. “Many have served 20–25 years. Forcing them to clear TET now is unjust and disruptive,” he said.

The minister added that the state will seek exemption for teachers recruited before the RTE Act (2009) and the NCTE TET notification (2011).

On October 25, the Meghalaya Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Schools Association (MSSASA) filed a separate review petition in the Supreme Court.
MSSASA President Aristotle Rymbai called the ruling “unfair and impractical”, especially for senior teachers nearing retirement.
“These educators were appointed under valid rules at the time. Retroactive disqualification is unreasonable,” he argued.

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The association has urged the court to exempt pre-RTE/NCTE appointees, protect service continuity and promotions.

The association also urged the prevention of mass disqualification.

The state government and teachers’ body are aligned in their demand for compassionate reconsideration, citing the potential collapse of the education system if thousands of experienced teachers are removed.

The Supreme Court’s decision has sparked widespread concern across states with similar teacher demographics.