Panchayat teachers from Bihar government schools who sought an exemption from a competency test mandated by the state government in 2023 were left disappointed after the Supreme Court rejected their plea. The test is a requirement for teachers who wish to continue their employment.
In a scathing response, the Supreme Court criticized the teachers for attempting to bypass the competency test, upholding the state law. Justice BV Nagarathna expressed astonishment, questioning the quality of education in the country, “Is this the level of education in the country? A postgraduate who gets a job and cannot even write an application for leave? When a state like Bihar tries to improve this system and conducts a qualifying examination for this, it is opposed,” Justice Nagarathna remarked on the petition filed by the non-profit organization Parivartankari Prarambhik Sikshak Sangh.
The Supreme Court emphasized the crucial role teachers play in nation-building, stating, “If you can’t face these (competency) tests, then you should resign.” The decision of the Patna High Court was upheld, and the petitions against the state law were dismissed.
In 2023, the state Education Department, exercising powers under Article 309 of the Constitution, established rules for teachers employed by panchayats and local bodies, aligning them with school teachers recruited under the Bihar State School Teachers (Appointment, Transfer, Disciplinary Action, and Service Conditions) Rules, 2023.
Additionally, the state introduced a rule requiring a qualifying examination, a computer-based test conducted by the Bihar School Examination Board. The case involved approximately four lakh panchayat teachers. The high court had previously ruled that contract teachers must pass the eligibility test to continue their employment. It was this decision that the teachers challenged in their petition, which the Supreme Court ultimately dismissed.