By Tripura24 News Desk | Agartala Thursday, January 29, 2026
AGARTALA: Following a landmark legal triumph that has sent ripples through the state’s administrative corridors, the Tripura TET Teachers’ Welfare Association (TTTWA) held a crucial press conference today at the Agartala Press Club. The session was dedicated to a data-backed analysis of the High Court of Tripura’s historic verdict, which recently declared the state’s long-standing “Fixed-Pay” policy for regular recruits as unconstitutional.
The “Historic” Ruling: An End to 25 Years of Injustice
The association leaders addressed the media regarding the division bench’s recent judgment, which dismantled the policy of keeping teachers on a fixed pay for the first five years of service. The court ruled that teachers recruited against permanent posts through a regular competitive process (TRBT/TET) are entitled to the full regular pay scale from the very first day of their appointment.
Speaking at the press conference, Association Secretary Ajay Pal hailed the judiciary for upholding the principle of “Equal Pay for Equal Work.”
“For years, our teachers were exploited under the guise of ‘fixed-pay,’ receiving only a fraction of their rightful salary despite performing identical duties to their regular colleagues. The High Court has now confirmed that there is no ‘estoppel against the Constitution.’ This is a victory for every TET-qualified teacher who stood firm against this discriminatory system,” Secretary Ajay Pal stated.
Fact-Based Analysis of the Verdict:
The Association presented a detailed analytical report on the implementation of the judgment:
- Constitutional Violation: The court found the government memoranda of 2001 and 2007 (introduced during the Left Front era and continued by the subsequent government) to be violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.
- Notional Benefits: The court has ordered that regular pay scales be granted notionally from the date of initial appointment.
- Arrear Payments: Actual financial arrears are to be paid for a period of three years prior to the filing of the writ petitions, along with 9% interest per annum.
- Service Status: All affected teachers will now be deemed “Regularly Appointed” from their first day of joining, affecting their seniority and future promotion prospects.
Demands for the State Government
While celebrating the legal win, State President Rajesh Dutta and other senior members, including Surajit Dutta and Balaram Roy, urged the state cabinet to avoid further legal delays.
- Immediate Implementation: The association formally appealed to Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha to implement the order within the court-stipulated timeframe of three months.
- Opposition to Appeals: The teachers urged the government not to move the Supreme Court, arguing that it would only increase the financial burden on the state and prolong the mental agony of the educators.
- 8th Pay Commission: Taking advantage of the platform, the association also reiterated the demand for the timely implementation of the 8th Pay Commission (expected nationally in 2026) and the removal of existing Grade Pay disparities.
Presence of Leadership
The press conference saw a strong presence of the association’s executive body, including Sananda Pal, Misra Das, and Purnendu Sutradhar. They concluded by stating that this judgment sets a precedent not just for teachers but for all Group C and D employees in Tripura who were recruited under the fixed-pay regime.
The TTTWA has announced that they will soon lead a delegation to the Education Department to discuss the technicalities of salary restructuring as per the High Court’s directives.
