Dismissing the plea of ​​some candidates challenging the syllabus criteria of the Teacher Eligibility Test Guidelines, saying they were arbitrary, the Telangana High Court observed that the guidelines formulated by the National Council for Teacher Education Teachers (NCTE) aims to ensure that competent candidates are recruited as teachers.

In doing so, the court emphasized that the requirement to have basic knowledge in certain subjects, as required by the guidelines taught to schoolchildren in classes I to VIII, cannot be termed as arbitrary.

A division bench composed of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J Sreenivas Rao in his order it was stated that teachers should possess the aptitude and capacity to meet the challenges associated with the primary and upper primary levels.

“The guidelines for conducting the Teacher Eligibility Test, which is a qualifying examination, have been developed by the NCTE to ensure that competent persons are recruited as teachers and they must possess the aptitude and essential capacity to meet the challenges of primary and upper primary education. levels.”

The bench said the candidate must also have basic knowledge in subjects such as mathematics, science and social sciences. He said it is well settled that the authority can prescribe a program of examination and the court can only intervene in cases of arbitrariness.

“A candidate seeking appointment as a teacher must therefore have the basic knowledge in the above-mentioned 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 well known in law that it is up to the authority to prescribe examination syllabi and the Court, in exercising its power of judicial review, will only intervene when the syllabi laid down suffer from arbitrariness.” he said.

The court observed that the “the requirement to possess basic knowledge in the subjects taught to schoolchildren in classes I to VIII cannot be called arbitrary or discriminatory“.

The case concerns petitioners who had completed their bachelor’s degree in Telugu and even their bachelor’s degree in education in Telugu literature. For teacher recruitment in Telangana, Telangana Direct Recruitment for Teacher Post (Selection Scheme), 2023 rules govern the process and the candidate has to clear the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET).

The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) has developed guidelines for conducting the Teacher Eligibility Test. As per the guidelines, if a candidate wishes to be appointed as a teacher to teach classes I to V, then he/she has to clear paper I and if a candidate wants to teach classes VI to VIII, then he/she has to clear paper II. The problem is that petitioners qualified in language had the option of appearing only in science, social studies and mathematics. It was argued that the provision was arbitrary in that unequal people sought to be treated as equals.

The court then denied the motion for summons.

Case Title: Arakula Yadaiah v. Ministry of Education

Case No: WRITTEN PETITION No. 33576 of 2024

Counsel for the applicants: Advocate Siripuram Keshava

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

Counsel for Respondent 3: Advocate Mr. N.Ananeesh

Click here to read/download the order