MP’s TET Move Triggers Anger: Exam First, Review Petition Later

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The implementation of the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) following a Supreme Court ruling has triggered widespread unrest among teachers in Madhya Pradesh. The state government is drawing sharp criticism for the sequence of its decisions, with thousands of teachers launching protests against the move.

Despite the uncertainty following the judicial verdict, Madhya Pradesh was the first state to act on the order, announcing the TET exam schedule on March 2 and fixing the exam window for July and August. However, the state government approached the apex court much later, filing its review petition only in April.

This delay made Madhya Pradesh one of the last major states to seek legal relief, even as it pressured lakhs of in-service teachers to prepare for the test. Teacher organisations argue that while other states prioritised legal recourse to protect their workforce, MP’s "implementation-first" approach has left teachers in a state of panic without any clarity on their future.

Upendra Kaushal, spokesperson of the Teachers’ Sanyukt Morcha, said the state government failed to act strategically after the Supreme Court ruling. “The government first announced the exam date and only later moved the Supreme Court, which serves little purpose now.

The Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI) should reconsider and roll back the decision to conduct this exam,” he said.

How other states protected their teachers

Tamil Nadu is among the first to react; announced move to file review petition immediately after the September verdict. West Bengal, filed the review petition in late October, challenging mandatory TET for in service teachers. Andhra Pradesh announced decision to file review petition in October. Kerala also moved the Supreme Court seeking relief for in-service teachers.

Uttar Pradesh also challenged the ruling and explored legal options. Jammu and Kashmir filed the review petition and also scrapped the decision to conduct the exam.