Parimal Kumar vs State of Jharkhand (2025) - Case Analysis

The case of Parimal Kumar vs State of Jharkhand drew attention due to the decision of the High Court of Jharkhand to allow candidates with CTET or TET certificates from neighbouring states to appear in the recruitment process. The intervention of the Supreme Court to set aside this decision highlighted the importance of maintaining the integrity and fairness of the recruitment process.

The case at hand centres around the recruitment process for Assistant Teacher positions in Jharkhand in 2023. A Public Interest Litigation was filed by the Jharkhandi CTET Utteern Abhiyarthi Sangh and other qualified candidates and urged the State Government to conduct the State Teacher Eligibility Test (STET). The State Teacher Eligibility Test had not been held since 2016. 

The Petitioners contended that due to the lack of an STET nearly 3 to 4 lakh aspirants were excluded from the recruitment process because they only had CTET qualification or TET certificate from neighbouring states.

The Petitioners also argued that the failure of the State to acknowledge CTET as an equivalent qualification along with the non-conduct of the STET resulted in the exclusion of eligible candidates. In response to this, the High Court of Jharkhand delivered a judgement which allowed candidates with CTET or TET certificates from neighbouring states to participate in the recruitment process for 2023.

The main issue in the case of Parimal Kumar vs State of Jharkhand was whether candidates possessing CTET or TET certificates from neighbouring states should be allowed to participate in the recruitment process for Assistant Teachers in Jharkhand or not?

The 2-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice Rajesh Bindal in Parimal Kumar vs State of Jharkhand set aside the 2023 decision of the Jharkhand High Court. The Jharkhand High Court allowed the residents of Jharkhand possessing CTET or TET certificates from neighbouring states to participate in the recruitment process. 

The Supreme Court highlighted that the decision of the Jharkhand High Court was based on a concession made by the Jharkhand Advocate General which amounted to changing the rules of the game after the commencement of the recruitment process in July 2023.

The Court in Parimal Kumar vs State of Jharkhand also explained that the candidates who applied after the verdict of the High Court of Jharkhand or after the amendment of the recruitment rules will not be considered for the recruitment process of 2023. It means that only those candidates who met the eligibility criteria before the amendment to the recruitment rules will be considered for the recruitment.

In Parimal Kumar vs State of Jharkhand (2025) the Supreme Court overturned the decision of Jharkhand High Court. The Court highlighted the need to follow the original recruitment rules. It ensured the recruitment process must remain fair and consistent. The Court also stated that candidates who applied after the amendments in the rules will not be eligible.