Teachers Must Possess Essential Aptitude, Ability To Meet Challenges Of Teaching: Telangana HC Rejects Plea Against Eligibility Test Guidelines

Dismissing a plea by certain candidates challenging the syllabus criteria in the Guidelines for Teacher Eligibility Test claiming it to be arbitrary, the Telangana High Court observed that the guidelines framed by National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) are to ensure that competent candidates are recruited as teachers.

In doing so the court underscored that the requirement of having basic knowledge in subjects–as was required in the guidelines, which are taught to school children studying in classes I to VIII cant be termed as arbitrary

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J Sreenivas Rao in its order said that teachers should possess aptitude and the ability to deal with challenges in dealing at primary and upper primary levels.

“The Guidelines for conducting Teacher Eligibility Test, which is a qualifying examination, have been framed by the NCTE to ensure that competent persons are recruited as Teachers and they should possess the essential aptitude and ability to meet the challenges of teaching at the primary and upper primary levels.”

The bench stated that the candidate should have basic knowledge of subjects like Maths, science and social science as well. It said that is well established that the authority can prescribe syllabus for examinations and court can only interfere when there is some arbitrariness.

“A candidate seeking appointment as a Teacher, therefore, must have the basic knowledge in the aforesaid subjects (Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I which is Telugu and Language II which is English as well as Mathematics, Science and Social Studies). It is trite law that it is for the authority to prescribe the syllabi for an examination and the Court, in exercise of powers of judicial review, will interfere only when the syllabi fixed suffers from arbitrariness,” it said.

The court observed that the "requirement of having basic knowledge in the subjects which are taught to school children from classes I to VIII cannot be termed either as arbitrary or discriminatory".

The case revolves around petitioners who had completed their Bachelor's Degree in Telugu and even their Bachelor of Education Degree in Telugu Literature. For recruitment to be teachers in Telangana, the Telangana Direct Recruitment for the post of Teachers (Scheme of Selection) Rules, 2023 governs the process and the candidate has to give the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET).

The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) framed Guidelines for conducting Teacher Eligibility Test. As per the guidelines if a candidate seeks appointment as a teacher to teach classes I to V, they have to clear Paper I and if a candidate wants to teach classes from VI to VIII then they have to clear Paper II. The issue arose that petitioners who are qualified in language were given option to appear in science, social studies and maths only. It was contended that the provision is arbitrary as unequals are sought to be treated as equals.

The court thereafter dismissed the writ petition.

Case Title: Arakula Yadaiah Versus Ministry of Education

Case No: WRIT PETITION No.33576 of 2024

Counsel for petitioners: Advocate Siripuram Keshava

Counsel for Respondents: Mr. T.Venkat Raju, Government Pleader for School Education Department for the respondents No.2 and 4.

Counsel for Respondent 3: Advocate Mr. N.Ananeesh

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