SC grants major relief to candidates selected under ReT scheme, directs J&K Govt to issue engagement orders

STC NEWS DESK
NEW DELHI, MAY 02 (STC): Jammu and Kashmir administration has been directed by the Supreme Court of India to issue engagement orders to the candidates selected under the Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) scheme. The apex court held that the scheme’s closure cannot retrospectively deny appointments to those already placed in select panels.
According to the reports, the order came while disposing of a batch of petitions, including the case involving the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir versus Saba Wani, with the court modifying earlier High Court directions.
The court ruled that candidates included in the select panels must be appointed based on available vacancies and their merit position. It directed the administration to issue formal engagement orders within eight weeks, the reports said.
However, the court said that candidates appointed under the scheme must acquire the minimum qualifications prescribed by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), including qualifying the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), within three years and up to three attempts.
After acquiring the required qualifications and clearing TET, such appointees would be eligible for regularization after completing two years of service., the judgment stated.
The court clarified that these conditions would also apply to similarly placed candidates who have already been appointed under the ReT scheme but do not meet the required qualifications.
It also directed that seniority among such candidates be determined based on their position in the original select panels, rather than the date of appointment or regularization.
Candidates who fail to acquire the required qualifications or clear TET within the stipulated period may face termination of services, warned the court and made it clear that the ruling does not revive the ReT scheme or create rights for those who were not part of the select panels or had not approached courts earlier.

(Straight Talk Communications)