Agartala, October 6: The Tripura High Court has directed the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) to submit detailed data on teacher vacancies in schools under its jurisdiction, including the number of single-teacher High Schools and Higher Secondary Schools.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M S Ramachandra Rao and Justice S Datta Purkayastha issued the direction while hearing a suo motu public interest litigation, WP(C)(PIL) No. 09 of 2026, Court on its own motion vs Union of India and Others.
The Bench impleaded the TTAADC, through its Chief Executive Officer, as a respondent and directed the council to file a counter affidavit on the availability of teachers in schools in tribal areas.
The council has been asked to furnish comprehensive details of vacant teaching posts and explain the engagement of contractual teachers instead of regular appointments.
It has also been directed to provide specific information on single-teacher schools functioning under its jurisdiction, amid concerns over the impact of staff shortages on students.
The directions were issued as the court examined the broader issue of vacancies in government schools across Tripura.
Figures placed before the court by the state government showed that 15,449 teacher posts fell vacant between 2018-19 and 2023-24 due to retirements and terminations. Against these vacancies, only 6,659 appointments were made during the period, leaving a gap of nearly 9,000 posts.
The Bench also took note of the recruitment undertaken by the Teachers’ Recruitment Board, Tripura (TRBT).
It observed that the TRBT had advertised 700 Graduate Teacher posts in September 2025, while no fresh advertisement for Graduate Teacher recruitment had been issued in 2026 so far.
The court urged the state government and the recruitment board to expedite the recruitment process and fill vacant posts, emphasising the importance of adequate teaching staff for the effective functioning of government schools.
The Bench also reviewed the status of basic infrastructure in schools on the basis of UDISE 2025-26 data.
It noted that electricity connections were available in 84 per cent of schools, while drinking water facilities were available in 4,048 of 4,144 schools. Toilet facilities were available in 90 per cent of schools for girls and 92 per cent for boys.
The court directed the authorities to address the remaining infrastructure gaps and ensure complete coverage of essential facilities.
The matter has been listed for November 16, when the TTAADC’s counter affidavit and the required data will be examined.
