Punjab Teachers Stage Violent Protest Against Mandatory TET Implementation
Teachers' organizations in Punjab engaged in a dramatic confrontation with law enforcement authorities on Thursday, as they marched toward the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to protest what they termed the "forced imposition" of the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). The demonstration turned violent when Chandigarh Police deployed water cannons, tear gas, and baton charges to disperse the advancing crowd of educators.
Protest Origins and Supreme Court Mandate
The protest was organized by the Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha and several other teachers' unions in response to the Supreme Court's landmark September 1, 2025 order. This judicial ruling made TET compulsory for all teachers across the country, a decision that has sparked widespread concern among the teaching community in Punjab. The rally commenced at Sector 25 in Chandigarh before participants began their march toward the state legislative assembly.
Confrontation with Law Enforcement
As the teachers approached the Punjab assembly building, they encountered substantial barricades erected by Chandigarh Police. During the ensuing standoff, the Chief Minister's Officer on Special Duty attempted to mediate with the protesters. However, this intervention failed to produce any concrete assurances regarding their primary demand: legislation to protect teachers' service security in light of the Supreme Court ruling.
When protesters attempted to push past the barricades, police responded with forceful measures. Multiple water cannons were deployed, saturating the crowd, while tear gas canisters created clouds of irritant smoke. Police personnel also conducted baton charges against the demonstrators. The confrontation resulted in several injuries among teachers, with reports indicating that some participants had their turbans dislodged during the chaotic scene.
Post-Confrontation Developments
Following the police action, injured and drenched protesters staged a sit-in demonstration that temporarily blocked traffic in the area. Teachers' leaders issued a stern ultimatum to the Punjab government, demanding passage of protective legislation by March 16. Should the government fail to comply, they have threatened to organize widespread protests at district and tehsil levels on March 17.
Criticism of Supreme Court Ruling
Addressing the rally, prominent leaders including Mahinder Korian Wali voiced strong criticism of the Supreme Court decision. They argued that the ruling, delivered under Article 142 of the Constitution, disregarded existing notifications issued by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). More significantly, protesters highlighted that the mandate makes TET compulsory even for teachers who were appointed before the test was originally introduced.
The Supreme Court's order provides limited exemptions, applying only to teachers with less than five years remaining before retirement. However, even these exempted educators would become ineligible for promotions under the new framework. All other teachers have been given a two-year window to pass the TET examination, with failure potentially resulting in removal from service.
Broader Implications and Teacher Concerns
The protest highlights growing anxiety within Punjab's teaching community regarding job security and career progression. Teachers argue that retroactive application of the TET requirement unfairly penalizes experienced educators who have served for years without such certification. The demand for state legislation represents an attempt to create safeguards against what protesters view as an unjust implementation timeline and potential job losses.
As the March 16 deadline approaches, all eyes remain on the Punjab government's response to these escalating demands from the state's teaching workforce.
