Cuttack: Odisha high court has suspended promotion of teachers to level-III cadre in Sambalpur district after a level-IV teacher challenged his exclusion from the process owing to non-clearance of Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (OTET).Justice R K Pattanaik issued the interim order on Sept 21 while hearing a petition filed by Babrubahan Bhoi, a graduate trained teacher (arts) at Nirgunpada Govt Upper Primary School in Baraipali.The matter has been posted for final hearing and orders on Nov 9. As an interim measure, the court directed DEO, Sambalpur, “not to proceed further vis-à-vis promotion to Level-III cadre” pursuant to the final gradation list and the Sept 3 order until the next hearing.Bhoi’s name figured at serial number 77 in the gradation list with the remark “OTET not passed”. He has challenged the list and sought its recasting, contending that the OTET qualification was not applicable to him as he had entered service before Sept 3, 2001.Appearing for Bhoi, advocate Purusottam Chuli referred to a Supreme Court decision. He submitted that the apex court had held that the qualification was not mandatory for teachers who had joined service before the specified cut-off date.Chuli also cited a July 29, 2026 order of Bombay high court, which, he submitted, held that teachers falling in the category stood exempted from passing TET. “Despite the fact that such a qualification is not required by the petitioner, he has been deprived of getting promotion” because of the “OTET not passed” remark, the counsel submitted.The high court directed additional govt advocate J K Bal to obtain instructions from the state govt and file its response.
