Minister for Human Resource Development Nara Lokesh on Tuesday announced that the State government will file a review petition in the Supreme Court challenging its recent verdict on the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET).

According to a press release, the Minister made the announcement in response to a plea from a delegation of TDP MLCs Alapati Rajendra Prasad, Bhoomireddy Rangopal Reddy, and former MLC A.S. Ramakrishna, who met him at the Secretariat and conveyed the deep concern and distress among in-service teachers over the apex court's order making TET qualification mandatory. The MLCs urged the Minister to have the government file a review petition on behalf of teachers, particularly those appointed through DSC before October 23, 2010, who are already in service and facing anxiety over the new requirement.

Following the Supreme Court's order, the State government had issued instructions that all Secondary Grade Teachers (SGTs) and School Assistants who are in service and not yet qualified in TET -- and have more than five years left for retirement as on September 1, 2025 -- must compulsorily clear TET to continue in service. A TET notification was subsequently issued on October 24, 2025.

The delegation explained that the directive has caused serious concern among teachers who have already put in 20-25 years of service, as those failing to qualify in TET would be rendered ineligible to continue as teachers. They also noted that even those with less than five years of service remaining would need TET qualification to be eligible for promotion.

Responding to their representation, Mr. Lokesh assured them that while the government would go ahead with conducting TET in compliance with the Supreme Court's orders, it would simultaneously file a review petition reflecting the concerns and aspirations of the teaching community. He further assured that all necessary steps would be taken to safeguard teachers' interests and ensure that their service conditions are protected.

State to file review petition in Supreme Court on TET order: Lokesh