HP High Court Allows JBT Candidates to Appear in TGT, TET Exams

Shimla, 30 June 2025: In a historic judgment, the Himachal Pradesh High Court today permitted JBT-qualified candidates to participate provisionally in the TGT recruitment process conducted by the HP State Selection Commission, Hamirpur. The division bench comprising Justice Trilok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sushil Kukreja delivered the ruling in the case Dev Raj & Others vs. State of Himachal Pradesh, marking a significant shift in the state’s education policy framework.

Earlier, in Mohit Thakur vs. State of HP, the Court had already allowed JBT holders to appear in the TET for TGT (Arts) on 31 October 2023. The core issue has been the conflict between NCTE norms and state recruitment rules, with NCTE clearly stating that graduates with a two-year D.El.Ed. are eligible to teach up to Class 8. The petitioners argued that the current state rules deprive thousands of qualified candidates of rightful opportunities.

During the proceedings, the Additional Advocate General stated that the state government had no objection to allowing the petitioners to submit online applications for TGT exams, indicating a cooperative stance. Advocates Mohit Thakur, Kunal Mehta, and Heena Chauhan effectively represented the petitioners, emphasizing the need for aligning state norms with national standards.

The order is provisional and subject to final adjudication, with the next hearing set for 21 July 2025. The Court made it clear that provisional participation does not confer any vested or permanent right.

This decision opens up new avenues of employment for JBT holders and is expected to enhance the availability of trained educators in Himachal Pradesh. It also sets a legal precedent for similar future cases and urges policymakers to harmonize state-level rules with national guidelines.