The Meghalaya Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Schools Association (MSSASA) has announced its decision to file a review petition before the Supreme Court of India. The move comes in response to the apex court’s September 1 ruling, which made it mandatory for all in-service teachers to clear the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) to continue in their posts. The decision to legally contest the verdict was reached unanimously during the MSSASA’s general meeting held on Monday, where hundreds of teachers gathered to express growing concern over the court’s order. MSSASA president Aristotle Rymbai said the association would specifically challenge the retrospective application of the Supreme Court’s directive, arguing that it unfairly affects teachers who were recruited long before the introduction of TET norms in Meghalaya.“Our legal advisors have examined the order carefully and believe that its retrospective implementation can be contested,” Rymbai stated.
“Many teachers who have devoted decades of service to primary education are now facing uncertainty simply because they were appointed before TET became a requirement.” He added that the association’s members felt “deeply unsettled” by the verdict, particularly senior educators nearing retirement who may now be compelled to take an exam introduced years after they joined the service. “The livelihoods of hundreds of teachers, especially in rural and remote areas, are at stake. This decision will have serious consequences on their futures if not reviewed,” Rymbai emphasized. According to MSSASA officials, the association is preparing to file the review petition within the next few days, seeking the court’s consideration for exemptions or relaxation for long-serving teachers appointed under the previous recruitment framework. The group has also sought legal support from education rights advocates and senior counsel familiar with service-related litigations in the education sector.
The Supreme Court’s September 1 verdict reaffirmed the necessity of TET as a minimum qualification for teaching posts under the Right to Education Act, 2009, asserting that all teachers, including those appointed prior to its enactment, must comply with the qualification norms to continue in service. While the decision was hailed as a step toward improving education quality nationwide, it has triggered protests and apprehensions in several states, including Meghalaya, Assam, and Nagaland, where many teachers were appointed before the implementation of TET rules.