Allahabad HC dismisses Shiksha Mitras’ plea for UP Special TET 2026 inclusion

The Allahabad High Court, on Thursday, October 1, 2026, dismissed a series of petitions seeking the inclusion of Shiksha Mitras in the Special Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) 2026. The petitions, filed by Waseem Ahmed and 220 other Shiksha Mitras, were heard by a single bench presided over by Justice Manju Rani Chauhan.

The court clarified that the Special TET is a transitional qualifying measure for existing in-service teachers whose service is subject to TET qualification as per a Supreme Court mandate, and does not automatically cover Shiksha Mitras. This ruling impacts approximately 73,000 Shiksha Mitras in Uttar Pradesh who have not yet passed the TET.

Court’s Rationale on Special TET Eligibility

The Allahabad High Court held that the eligibility to take the regular TET does not, by itself, grant Shiksha Mitras a right to participate in the Special TET. The court observed that the legal status of Shiksha Mitras is distinct from that of teachers employed in government service. The Constitution, it noted, does not require the state to remove a distinction if it is based on a legitimate legal objective.

The Special TET was introduced by the Uttar Pradesh government through the Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC) in pursuance of a Supreme Court order dated September 1, 2025. This order made it mandatory for all teachers working in government and aided schools to qualify the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) by August 31, 2028. Teachers currently in service who do not meet this eligibility requirement must clear the Special TET within one year to avoid job loss.

Purpose and Scope of Special TET 2026

The court emphasized that the Special TET is a provisional and transitional scheme designed for specific in-service teachers. It is intended to enable existing teachers to fulfill a mandatory qualification that became applicable to them after their entry into service. The opportunity to appear in such a qualifying examination, the court stated, neither creates any post, reserves any vacancy, nor confers any vested right of appointment.

The classification between in-service teachers and persons not in service was upheld by the court, which found it rests upon an intelligible differentia with a direct nexus to the object sought to be achieved. The government order dated September 2, 2026, which provides for a Special TET for in-service teachers, was also upheld. The petitioners had challenged this order on grounds of alleged violation of Articles 14 (right to equality) and 16 (equal opportunity in employment) of the Constitution.

Examination Details and Shiksha Mitras’ Next Steps

The Special TET 2026 is specifically for teachers and Shiksha Mitras working in council-run schools who have not passed either TET or CTET. Teachers who have already passed these examinations are not required to take the Special TET. The examination will carry 150 marks, consist of objective questions, and last two and a half hours, with each question carrying one mark and no negative marking.

The Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission issued the notification for the Special TET on September 3, 2026. Online registration, OTR, and the application process began on September 5, 2026. Candidates can pay the application fee until October 4, 2026, with the deadline for application corrections set for October 8, 2026. The Special TET examination is scheduled for November 3, 2026.

Advocate Jain Abbas, representing the Shiksha Mitras, highlighted their 26+ years of service and various duties during the hearing. Following the dismissal, Waseem Ahmed, UP Prathmik Shikshamitra Sangh Pradesh Upadhyaksh, stated that they would appeal the decision in a double bench of the Allahabad High Court.

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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