SC Affirms JTET-Only Criteria for Jharkhand Assistant Teacher Posts

Ranchi: The Supreme Court has ruled that only candidates who have successfully passed the Jharkhand Teacher Eligibility Test (JTET) are eligible for appointment as assistant teachers in the state of Jharkhand.

This significant decision was delivered on Thursday by a bench comprising Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice Rajesh Bindal. The court’s ruling specifically excludes candidates who have passed the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) from the ongoing recruitment process.

This landmark ruling comes as a major relief for candidates who have qualified through JTET, providing them with a clear pathway to employment. However, it is a setback for those who had applied for the assistant teacher positions without clearing the JTET.

The ruling stems from a previous decision by the Jharkhand High Court, which had permitted candidates with TET qualifications from other states or with CTET certification to apply for 26,000 assistant teacher positions. This High Court decision was subsequently challenged and reviewed by the Supreme Court, leading to the current ruling.

JTET-qualified candidates can now breathe a sigh of relief as they move forward in the recruitment process, while those reliant on other qualifications must reassess their options.