The Biz Reporter
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference President Sajad Gani Lone on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the J&K government over the move to subject in-service teachers to the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET), calling it a “grave injustice” that undermines the dignity and security of educators.
Addressing the issue, Lone urged the administration to explore every possible option and press the Union government for immediate relief. He stressed that teachers, who have already been recruited and are serving in the system, should not be pushed into uncertainty through fresh eligibility hurdles.
Lone said there is a growing nationwide demand for the Union government to bring a law to discontinue TET, and asserted that Jammu and Kashmir should align with that demand rather than “blindly implementing” the test. He warned that enforcing TET on in-service teachers could have far-reaching consequences, terming it nothing short of an educational and societal disaster.
Reiterating that teachers deserve respect, stability, and confidence—not anxiety—Lone cautioned that policies which erode morale would ultimately harm the education system and society at large.
The Peoples Conference chief also broadened his criticism to the government’s outsourcing policy, remarking that private companies entrusted with around 24,000 outsourced jobs pose a serious societal challenge. He argued that excessive reliance on outsourcing in public employment weakens accountability and creates long-term insecurity for workers.
Lone’s remarks have added momentum to the ongoing debate around TET implementation and employment practices in Jammu and Kashmir, with teachers’ bodies and civil society groups increasingly voicing concerns over job security and policy direction.
