Maharashtra teachers warn of silent protests on Oct 4 if govt fails to seek review of SC's TET ruling

Teachers' organisations across Maharashtra have warned that they will hold a silent protest on October 4 if the state government fails to file a review petition against the recent Supreme Court ruling mandating TET for aspiring and in-service teachers.

In a joint statement, all teachers’ organisations wrote to the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and education minister Dadaji Bhose demanding that the state government should challenge the Supreme Court decision on TET and scrap its March 15, 2024, announcement related to the eligibility.

The teachers warned that they will hold silent protests at collector’s offices across the state on October 4, if the review petition is not filed. They also raised other long-pending issues.

Sajid Nisar Ahmed, founder of Akhil Bhartiya Urdu Shikshak Sangh said several teachers’ groups, including Shikshak Parishad, Shikshak Sena, Junior Pension Rights Sangh, Shikshak Bharati, Maharashtra Shikshak Sangh, Pragati Shikshak Sangh, among others will take part in the October 4 silent protest if their demands are not met.

Also read ‘Cruelty, not reform’: Supreme Court’s TET ruling will hit 98 lakh, senior teachers hardest, says union

States oppose Supreme Court order

On September 1, the top court bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Manmohan held that teachers in non-minority institutions with over five years of service left must clear the TET exam within two years. However, this rule does not apply to those appointed in minority institutions and those with less than five years’ service.

Following the decision, states like Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha have announced their plans to challenge the ruling. While the UP and Odisha governments have said they will review the order, the Kerala government announced that it will challenge the ruling as it is likely to impact 50,000 teachers.

Maharashtra TET 2025 exam date

In Maharashtra, nearly 6 lakh – 70-75% – in-service teachers will have to qualify the TET exam to retain their jobs, Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) member JM Abhyankar said in a letter addressed to the education minister, Dadaji Bhuse. He also demanded the officials conduct the TET exam thrice a year, for the next two years.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra State Council of Examination (MSCE) has begun the registration process for the state Teacher Eligibility Test ( Maha TET 2025 ). The last date to apply is October 3 and the exam is scheduled to be conducted on November 23.

The All-India Primary Teachers’ Federation estimated that this decision will impact 98 lakh teachers across the country.