Rajasekar v. The Government Of Tamil Nadu Rep. By Its Principal Secretary,

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 19.11.2025 CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.KUMARESH BABU and W.M.P.(MD).Nos.26061 & 26062 of 2025

1. Rajasekar

2. Agnes Antony Renitta

...Petitioners

-Vs1. The Government of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Department of School Education (TRB) Fort St. George Secretariat Chennai-600 009.

2. The Chairman Teachers Recruitment Board Chennai-600 006.

3. The Director of School Education D.P.I. Campus College Road Nungambakkam Chennai-600 006.

...Respondents

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Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a WRIT OF CERTIORARIFIED MANDAMUS, calling for the records pertaining to the impugned Government Order in G.O.(Ms)No.231, School Education (TRB) Department, dated 13.10.2025 issued by the 1st respondent, quash the same, and consequently direct the respondents 1 and 2 to permit the petitioners to appear in the Special Teachers Eligibility Tests to be conducted in the upcoming years, and pass such further or other orders as this Honble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case and thus render justice. For petitioner : M/s.S.S.Thesigan For Respondents : M/s.M.Ajmal Khan Additional Advocate General Assisted by Mr.T.Amjad Khan Government Advocate - For R2 : Mr.N.Satheesh Kumar Additional Government Pleader For R1 & R3 2/6

ORDER

The present Writ Petition is filed challenging the Government Order in G.O.(Ms)No.231, School Education (TRB) Department, dated 13.10.2025 issued by the 1st respondent and seeking consequential direction to the respondents 1 and 2 to permit the petitioners to appear in the Special Teachers Eligibility Tests to be conducted in the upcoming years.

2. I have carefully considered the submissions made on either side and perused the materials available on record.

3. The present writ petition has been filed challenging G.O. Ms.No. 231, School Education (TRB) Department, dated 13.10.2025, by which the Government has ordered the conduct of Special Teacher Eligibility Test for in-service candidates.

4. It is the claim of the petitioner that the Government has not conducted regular TET examination. This Court takes judicial note of the fact that a test was conducted in 2024 and that another test was subsequently conducted in the year 2025, even though mandate is to 3/6

conduct two tests per year. The Hon'ble Apex Court, in its judgment in Anjuman Ishaat-E-Taleem Trust v. State of Maharashtra, Civil Appeal No. 1385 of 2025 etc., batch, dated 01.09.2025, while rejecting the claim of teachers who are working in the non-minority institutions to exempt them from possessing TET qualification, a period of two years was granted to enable them to acquire the requisite TET qualification, failing which they would have to be discharged from service, treated as compulsorily retired, and paid their terminal benefits wherever they are entitled to. Even in the case of teachers who have not attained the requisite qualifying service for terminal benefits, the Hon'ble Apex Court has afforded them liberty to make representations to the Government for relaxation.

When the Hon'ble Apex Court fixed the timeline, it was meant for in-service teachers to obtain the required TET qualification. The Government has taken a policy decision to conduct special TET examinations in January, July, and December 2026 to enable the teachers to clear the TET and thereby retain their services. Such a decision cannot be found fault with, nor can it be extended to non-service candidates, as they do not fall within the same class that has been carved out in view of the judgment of the Hon'ble Apex Court, as stated supra.

5. In view of the same, this Court did not find any merits in the writ petition. Accordingly, this writ petition is dismissed. However, there shall be a direction to the respondents to conduct the TET, as mandated, twice a year. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

19.11.2025 Index : Yes/No Speaking/Non-Speaking order gvn To

1. The Government of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Department of School Education (TRB) Fort St. George Secretariat Chennai-600 009.

2. The Chairman Teachers Recruitment Board Chennai-600 006.

3. The Director of School Education D.P.I. Campus College Road Nungambakkam Chennai-600 006.

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K.KUMARESH BABU.J.

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