IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH AT SHIMLA
Coram
The Hon’ble Mr. Justice V.K. Sharma, J.
CWP No. 6610 of 2012-A Date of decision: 30.05.2013
Pankaj Sharma. Versus State of Himachal Pradesh & others.
Eligibility - Teacher Eligibility Test - The court held that the petitioner was fully eligible for appearing in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) as he was pursuing B.Ed. course at the time of the test, as per the eligibility conditions specified in the Guidelines for conducting TET under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE), 2009.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner, holding M.Com and M. Phil degrees in Commerce, was pursuing Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) course from Jammu University during 2011 session. He appeared for his B.Ed. final exams in September, 2011, and his result was declared on 29th February, 2012. He also took the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) conducted by respondent No. 3-Board on 5th February, 2012.
Finding of the Court:
The court allowed the petition and directed respondent No. 3-Board to declare the result of the petitioner of TET and issue the requisite certificate to him, as he was found to be fully eligible for appearing in the TET as per the eligibility conditions specified in the Guidelines for conducting TET under the RTE Act, 2009.
Issues: The eligibility of the petitioner to appear in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) based on the timing of his B.Ed. course completion and the declaration of the TET result.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was influenced by the interpretation of the eligibility condition No. 5 ii of the Guidelines for conducting TET, which specified that a person pursuing a teacher education course at the time of the TET is eligible to appear for the test.
Final Decision: The petition was allowed, and the court directed respondent No. 3-Board to declare the result of the petitioner of TET and issue the requisite certificate to him by a specified date.
V.K. Sharma, J. (Oral). The controversy between the parties, as involved in the present writ petition, lies within a narrow compass. The petitioner, who holds M.Com and M. Phil degrees in Commerce, was also pursuing Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) course from Jammu University during 2011 session. He had appeared for his B.Ed. final exams in September, 2011, and his result was declared on 29th February, 2012, in which he was successful. In the meantime, Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) was conducted by respondent No. 3-Board on 5th February, 2012. The petitioner also took that test. At that time, no objection was raised by the said respondent with regard to the eligibility of the petitioner to take the TET. However, in reply to the writ petition, an objection has been raised that since on the day TET was held, that is, 5th February, 2012, the petitioner was not holding B.Ed. degree, he was not eligible for appearing in TET. However, as per the ‘eligibility condition No. 5 ii of the Guidelines for conducting Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE), 2009’ placed on record by the petitioner as Annexure P-4, which reads as under, the eligibility of the petitioner cannot be doubted as on 5th February, 2012, when TET was held he was pursuing B.Ed. course and had already taken the final examination in the said course in September, 2011, though it is another matter that the result was declared only on 29th February, 2012, a few days after he appeared in TET, but in any case before declaration of result of TET:
“5 The following persons shall be eligible for appearing in the TET:
i. ii. A person who is pursuing any of the teacher education courses (recognized by the NCTE or the RCI, as the case may be) specified in the NCTE Notification dated 23rd August 2010.
2.In view of the above, it is manifest that in view of eligibility condition No. 5 ii, referred to hereinabove, the petitioner was fully eligible for appearing in TET, as he was pursuing B.Ed. course at that time, as already noticed hereinabove. Accordingly, the petition is allowed with a direction to respondent No. 3-Board to declare the result of the petitioner of TET by 15.06.2013 and issue the requisite certificate to him by 15.06.2013 as he has successfully qualified the said test, as is apparent from the photocopy of his marks certificate annexed with the reply filed on behalf of respondent No. 3-Board, which is at page 123 of the paper book..
3.The petition, as also pending CMP(s), if any, stand disposed of in the above terms. Copy dasti.
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