New Delhi: The TET eligibility for Special Educators issue came before the Supreme Court, which questioned whether passing the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) is a mandatory qualification for Special Educators in Bihar. The Court asked the Bihar Government to explain why recruitment rules did not clearly require TET before issuing the recruitment advertisement.
A Bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Sheel Nagu heard a batch of petitions related to the appointment of Special Educators in several states, including Bihar.
TET Eligibility for Special Educators: What Did the Supreme Court Ask
During the hearing, the Court questioned the claim that TET is compulsory for Special Educators.
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Justice Dipankar Datta asked, “Where is the requirement of TET in your rules?” The Bench noted that the Bihar recruitment rules did not specifically mention TET as a mandatory qualification for Special Educators. The Court also observed that the TET requirement under the existing rules mainly applies to school teachers and not necessarily to Special Educators.
TET Eligibility for Special Educators: RCI Affidavit Says TET Is Not Mandatory
The petitioners referred to an affidavit filed by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). According to the affidavit, TET is not a mandatory professional qualification under the RCI’s Model Recruitment Rules for Special Educators. The essential requirement is a recognised degree or diploma in Special Education along with valid RCI registration.
The affidavit further stated that if any state wants to include TET in the recruitment process, it should conduct a Special Education-specific TET, rather than using the general TET examination.
Brief Details of Bihar Special Educator Recruitment Dispute
The case relates to the recruitment of 7,279 sanctioned Special Educator posts in Bihar. Out of these, 816 posts were reserved for contractual teachers.
Authorities verified the documents of 788 candidates, but only 139 candidates had both valid RCI registration and TET qualification. The remaining 649 candidates, who did not have TET qualification, were not recommended for appointment.
Petitioners Seek Appointment Letters
The petitioners informed the Court that 134 of the 139 eligible candidates have already been appointed. They requested directions to issue appointment letters to the remaining eligible candidates after completing administrative formalities, including Cabinet approval. However, the Supreme Court did not fix a deadline. The Bench observed that the timeline would depend on how frequently the State Cabinet meets.
TET Eligibility for Special Educators: Court Directs Bihar Government to Respond
The Supreme Court directed the Bihar Government to file an affidavit explaining the issue. Although the Court appeared ready to pass final directions, it adjourned the matter for one week after the amicus curiae sought additional time to obtain instructions from the concerned authorities.
The matter is scheduled for hearing again on 4 August 2026, when the Court will also consider similar issues related to Delhi, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh.
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