Tripura teachers get show-cause notices over TET coaching allegations
Synopsis
Tripura's School Education Department has served show-cause notices to three government teachers — one in Sepahijala and two in South Tripura — over alleged paid coaching for TET aspirants and a conduct-related social media video. With a pre-existing state ban on private tuition by government teachers, the notices signal tightening enforcement, though no wrongdoing has been established yet.
Key Takeaways
The School Education Department of Tripura issued show-cause notices to three government school teachers on 23 October 2026 .
Notices were issued by DEOs of South Tripura and Sepahijala districts over alleged paid TET-I and TET-II coaching.
One PGT at Belonia, South Tripura faces a notice linked to a social media video raising conduct concerns.
Two teachers are accused of conducting private coaching, tuition, and mock tests for TET aspirants in exchange for payment.
Teachers must submit written explanations within three days ; the notices do not by themselves establish wrongdoing.
The Tripura government already prohibits government teachers from engaging in private tuition under applicable service rules.
The School Education Department of Tripura has issued show-cause notices to three government school teachers over allegations of paid private coaching for Teachers' Eligibility Test (TET-I and TET-II) aspirants, officials said in Agartala on 23 October 2026. The notices were issued by District Education Officers (DEOs) of South Tripura and Sepahijala districts, directing the teachers to submit written explanations within three days of receiving the notices.
Key Allegations Against the Three Teachers
One case involves a Post Graduate Teacher (PGT) posted at Belonia in South Tripura, who reportedly received a show-cause notice in connection with a video circulated on social media that raised questions about compliance with conduct rules applicable to government employees.
In the remaining two cases, a Graduate Teacher in Sepahijala district and another teacher in South Tripura have reportedly been served notices over allegations of conducting private coaching classes, tuition sessions, and mock tests for TET-I and TET-II aspirants in exchange for payment.
What the Department Has Said
A senior official of the School Education Department confirmed that the notices call for written explanations before any further course of action is decided. According to officials, further departmental proceedings — if warranted — will be considered in accordance with the applicable service conduct rules and prescribed procedures.
The department has clarified that the issuance of show-cause notices does not, by itself, establish any wrongdoing. The outcome will depend on the explanations submitted by the teachers and the material available to the competent authority.
Backdrop: Tripura's Ban on Private Tuition by Government Teachers
The development comes against the backdrop of an existing Tripura government directive prohibiting government teachers from engaging in private tuition or coaching, in accordance with service rules and departmental orders. This is not the first time such allegations have surfaced in the state; the recurrence has renewed scrutiny of professional conduct norms among government employees.
Notably, any disciplinary action — including suspension where legally justified — would be subject to relevant service regulations and prescribed procedures. The department has also indicated it may consider action in other cases wherever violations are established.
What Happens Next
The teachers have been given an opportunity to respond to the allegations and present their explanations. If their replies are found unsatisfactory, the department may initiate further proceedings in accordance with applicable rules. The specific provisions of the service rules and the evidence relating to the allegations will be examined by the competent authority, and the matter currently remains at the show-cause notice stage.
Point of View
But the pattern they reveal is not. A standing state ban on private tuition has evidently not deterred all government teachers from coaching TET aspirants for fees — pointing to an enforcement gap rather than a policy gap. What is missing from the department's response is any signal of systemic action: three individual notices leave open the question of how many similar cases exist but remain undetected. The social media video angle in one case also underlines how conduct violations are increasingly surfacing through citizen documentation rather than official oversight, which should prompt the department to review its internal monitoring mechanisms.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were the three Tripura teachers issued show-cause notices?
The three government school teachers in Tripura were issued show-cause notices over alleged violations of service conduct rules. Two are accused of conducting paid private coaching, tuition, and mock tests for TET-I and TET-II aspirants, while one faces a notice linked to a social media video that raised conduct concerns.
Which districts are the teachers from?
The teachers are from South Tripura and Sepahijala districts. One Post Graduate Teacher is posted at Belonia in South Tripura, one Graduate Teacher is in Sepahijala, and a third teacher is also in South Tripura.
What is the deadline for the teachers to respond?
The teachers have been directed to submit their written explanations within three days of receiving the show-cause notices. Their replies will be reviewed by the competent authority before any further action is decided.
Is private coaching banned for government teachers in Tripura?
Yes. The Tripura government has prohibited government teachers from engaging in private tuition or coaching under applicable service rules and departmental directives. The current notices are linked to alleged violations of this prohibition.
What action can the department take if replies are unsatisfactory?
If the teachers' explanations are found unsatisfactory, the School Education Department may initiate further disciplinary proceedings under applicable service rules. Any action, including suspension where legally justified, would follow prescribed procedures. The issuance of show-cause notices does not by itself establish wrongdoing.
