Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 · Chapter IV: Responsibilities of Schools and Teachers
Section 23: Qualifications for appointment and terms and conditions of service of teachers
(1) Any person possessing such minimum qualifications, as laid down by an academic authority, authorised by the Central Government, by notification, shall be eligible for appointment as a teacher.
(2) Where a State does not have adequate institutions offering courses or training in teacher education, or teachers possessing minimum qualifications as laid down under sub-section (1) are not available in sufficient numbers, the Central Government may, if it deems necessary, by notification, relax the minimum qualifications required for appointment as a teacher, for such period, not exceeding five years, as may be specified in that notification:
Provided that a teacher who, at the commencement of this Act, does not possess minimum qualifications as laid down under sub-section (1), shall acquire such minimum qualifications within a period of five years.
[Provided further that every teacher appointed or in position as on the 31st March, 2015, who does not possess minimum qualifications as laid down under sub-section (1), shall acquire such minimum qualifications within a period of four years from the date of commencement of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Act, 2017 (24 of 2017).]
(3) The salary and allowances payable to, and the terms and conditions of service of, teachers shall be such as may be prescribed.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 14 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 23
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Anjuman Ishaat-E-Taleem Trust v. The State of Maharashtra and Others
1) Whether the State can insist that a teacher seeking appointment in a minority educational institution must qualify the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET); If so, whether providing such a qualification would affect any of…
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Soumen Paul & Ors. v. Shrabani Nayek & Ors.
The issue involved relates to the appointments to the post of assistant teachers in primary schools in the State of West Bengal.
- Ram Sharan Maurya and Others v. State of U.P. and Others
- The State of Rajasthan & Ors. v. Trilok Ram
- State of U.P and Ors. Etc. Etc. v. Shn Kumar Pathak and Ors. Etc. Etc.
- Neeraj Kumar Rai and Ors. v. State of U.P. & Others
- State of U.P. & Anr. Etc. v. Anand Kumar Yadav & Ors. Etc.
- Mrs. Satimbla Sharma and Ors. v. St. Pauls Senior Secondary School and Ors.