Punjab and Haryana High Court Stays Promotions Without TET Qualification for BPEO and Headmaster Posts
Chandigarh, February 13, 2026:
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed further promotions to the posts of Block Primary Education Officer (BPEO) and Headmaster/Headmistress in Punjab where the candidates have not qualified the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET).
The order was passed in CWP-4362-2026 titled Nitin Sodhi and others vs State of Punjab and another. The petitioners argued that the official respondents were not following the judgment of the Supreme Court of India in the case of Anjuman Ishaat-E-Taleem Trust vs State of Maharashtra and others (Civil Appeal No. 1385 of 2025, decided on 01.09.2025). In that judgment, the apex court had directed that qualifying the Teachers Eligibility Test is an essential condition for promotion to the posts of BPEO and Headmaster/Headmistress.
According to the petitioners, the Punjab government, through an impugned notification (Annexure P-1), had allegedly reduced the quota for direct recruitment to the post of Headmaster/Headmistress from 50% to 25%, and to the post of BPEO from 50% to 10%. It was further submitted that the authorities were proceeding with promotions without making TET qualification mandatory, which is contrary to the law laid down by the Supreme Court of India.
The matter came up before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, where notice of motion was issued. Ms. Arundhati Kulshrestha, Additional Advocate General, Punjab, accepted notice on behalf of the respondents and sought time to obtain instructions.
The court directed that the present case be listed along with CWP No. 37332 of 2025 on February 25, 2026, as a similar issue is already pending consideration.
Importantly, the High Court ordered that, in the meantime, further promotions to the posts of BPEO and Headmaster/Headmistress of those candidates who have not qualified the Teachers Eligibility Test shall remain stayed.
The order was passed by the Division Bench comprising Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Deepak Manchanda on February 13, 2026.
The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for February 25, 2026.
