Jobs of 12,000 Haryana Teachers at Risk; HTET Qualification Mandatory

Teachers who have not yet passed the Haryana Teacher Eligibility Test (HTET) are now required to do so. The Directorate of School Education has issued a notice regarding compliance with Supreme Court orders.

Approximately 12,000 teachers currently employed in Haryana’s government schools could face serious difficulties. Those who have not yet passed the Haryana Teacher Eligibility Test (HTET) are now required to clear the exam. The Directorate of School Education has issued a notice regarding compliance with Supreme Court orders. Under these directives, the services of some teachers who fail to pass the HTET could be terminated, or they could be subjected to compulsory retirement. Meanwhile, some teachers have been granted an exemption allowing them to remain in service until retirement, though they will not be eligible for promotion.

Conditions to be Determined Based on September 1, 2025

According to the Directorate of Education’s instructions, teachers who had more than five years of service remaining before retirement as of September 1, 2025, and have not passed the HTET, will be required to clear the HTET for their respective subjects. Failure to pass the exam could result in the termination of their services or compulsory retirement. Conversely, teachers who had five years or less of service remaining before retirement as of September 1, 2025, have been exempted from the HTET requirement. Such teachers may continue in service until the prescribed retirement age; however, if they wish to seek a promotion, they must pass the HTET for their respective subjects. Promotions will not be granted without clearing the HTET.

HTET to be Conducted Twice a Year

To provide teachers with ample opportunities to pass the exam, the Directorate of School Education has instructed the Board of School Education Haryana, Bhiwani (BSEH), to conduct the HTET twice a year. This will ensure teachers have equal opportunities to take the exam and fulfill the eligibility criteria. The Directorate of Education has instructed District Education Officers (DEOs) and District Elementary Education Officers (DEEOs) to disseminate information regarding this decision to all teachers in their respective districts. Additionally, directives have been issued to the establishment branches to take action in matters concerning teacher appointments and promotions in accordance with the Supreme Court’s orders.

Rule Implemented Following Supreme Court Order

The Directorate of Education stated that this action was taken based on the Supreme Court’s order dated September 1, 2025, in Civil Appeal No. 1385-2025 (Anjuman Ishat-e-Talim Trust vs. State of Maharashtra) and related matters. An order regarding the review petition filed in this case was also passed on May 29, 2026. Teachers from Haryana had also filed a review petition seeking relief in the matter, but it was dismissed in May 2026. Following this, the Directorate of Education issued these directives in compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders.

Teachers’ Associations Prepare to Approach Supreme Court Again

This decision has created a state of uncertainty among the affected teachers. The Haryana Primary Teachers Association is considering approaching the Division Bench of the Supreme Court once again regarding the issue. Consequently, the legal dispute between the teachers and the government concerning the mandatory nature of the HTET (Haryana Teacher Eligibility Test) is likely to continue.