Gurgaon: Haryana’s school education department has directed teachers who have more than five years remaining in service to clear the Haryana Teacher Eligibility Test (HTET), failing which they could face compulsory retirement. The directive, issued on Sept 14, follows Supreme Court orders aimed at strengthening educational standards by upholding mandatory teacher eligibility qualifications.Under the directive, the service status of teachers with more than five years of service remaining as of Sept 1, 2025, will depend on clearing HTET. Those who fail to obtain the qualification at their respective teaching level and in their subject will be required to leave service or face compulsory retirement.Teachers with less than five years of service remaining as of Sept 1, 2025, have been given an exemption from the requirement to clear HTET to continue in service. However, they will not be eligible for promotion unless they qualify in the test.The department has based the directive on the Supreme Court’s Sept 1, 2025, judgement in Anjuman Ishaat-e-Taleem Trust vs State of Maharashtra and others and a review order dated May 29, 2026, in State of UP vs Anjuman Ishaat-e-Taleem Trust and others. The apex court held that basic eligibility tests like HTET are non-negotiable benchmarks for maintaining educational quality, prompting state education departments nationwide to align their cadres with statutory standards.The directorate has directed all district education officers and district elementary education officers to inform teachers under their jurisdiction about the requirement. Establishment branches of the school education department have also been told to ensure that future appointments and promotions comply with the court orders.The department has also directed the Board of School Education, Bhiwani, to conduct HTET twice a year. The move will provide teachers with additional opportunities to obtain the mandatory qualification.
