Agartala, Sept 11: The Tripura government has been directed by a Division Bench of the High Court of Tripura to commence the recruitment process for 1,116 vacant Post Graduate Teacher (PGT) posts forthwith, observing that such posts do not lapse merely because the incumbent dies, retires, resigns or is terminated.
The order was passed by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao and Justice B. Palit while hearing a public interest litigation concerning vacancies in the education sector.
The court took note of an additional affidavit filed by the Under Secretary of the School Education Department, which stated that 1,116 PGT posts had fallen vacant due to death, retirement, resignation and termination of services of incumbents. The department had reportedly initiated a process to re-create the posts.
The Bench questioned the need for such an exercise, observing that posts do not lapse merely because the incumbent occupying them leaves service for any of the stated reasons. Describing the re-creation exercise as “wholly unnecessary”, the court directed the government to start recruitment against all 1,116 vacant PGT posts immediately.
Court questions filling of only 230 Graduate Teacher posts:
The court also expressed concern over the government's decision to fill only 230 Graduate Teacher posts despite 2,193 posts having fallen vacant due to retirement, resignation, death or termination. The Bench noted that the government had requisitioned the Teachers’ Recruitment Board, Tripura (TRBT) on July 5, 2022, for recommendation of 230 eligible candidates, but questioned why only a small fraction of the total vacancies was being filled.
The court observed that it was the duty of the respondents to fill all the vacant Graduate Teacher posts, rather than only 230.
Regarding the 230 posts, the government had cited a pending Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court concerning the application of reservation rules. However, the High Court noted that there was no stay order from the Supreme Court restraining the government from filling the posts during the pendency of the SLP.
Considering the needs of students and noting that the academic year had already advanced substantially, the court directed the government to take a decision by the next date of hearing on appointing candidates in Graduate Teacher posts, subject to the outcome of the SLP.
TRBT directed to complete recruitment for 700 new GT posts:
The Bench also took note of 700 newly created Graduate Teacher posts, for which a requisition had been sent to the Teachers’ Recruitment Board on August 5, 2025.
Although the Board conducted the selection test on February 14, 2026, no further progress had been made, according to the government.
Taking serious note of the situation, the High Court suo motu impleaded the Chairman of the Teachers’ Recruitment Board of Tripura as Respondent in the PIL.
The Board was directed to complete the recruitment process for all 700 posts at the earliest and submit an affidavit detailing the steps taken by the next date of hearing.
566 vacant HM, AHM posts:
The court further directed the government to fill up 162 vacant Headmaster posts and 100 Assistant Headmaster posts in Higher Secondary Schools, along with 304 vacant Headmaster posts in High Schools.
The respondents were directed to fill all these posts in accordance with the applicable rules and submit an affidavit on the action taken before the next hearing, listed along with another PIL on September 21, 2026.