Andhra Pradesh: YSRCP MP slams suspension of 3 teachers over TET visit to Delhi
Synopsis
Three Andhra Pradesh government teachers were suspended after joining a YSRCP delegation in Delhi to seek TET exemption for in-service teachers — but their suspension orders reportedly cite a DSC issue they never raised. YSRCP MP Gurumoorthy and Teachers' MLC Kalpalatha allege the charges are fabricated and amount to political intimidation of the teaching community.
Key Takeaways
Three government teachers — Sangameswara Reddy , Venkatnath Reddy , and Amarnath Reddy — were suspended by the Andhra Pradesh government.
The teachers had travelled to New Delhi to seek exemption from the mandatory TET for in-service teachers, meeting Union Education Minister Prahlad Joshi on Thursday .
Gurumoorthy and Teachers' MLC Kalpalatha allege the suspension orders falsely cite involvement in the DSC issue.
Both leaders have demanded the immediate revocation of the suspensions.
The TET exemption issue reportedly affects lakhs of in-service teachers across the state.
YSRCP MP M. Gurumoorthy on Friday strongly condemned the suspension of three government teachers in Andhra Pradesh who had travelled to New Delhi to raise concerns about the compulsory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) rule for in-service teachers. The MP questioned whether advocating for the teaching community before the Union Government had become a punishable offence.
What Led to the Suspensions
A delegation of YSRCP leaders had met Union Education Minister Prahlad Joshi in New Delhi on Thursday, urging the Centre to exempt senior in-service teachers from the mandatory TET requirement. The state government subsequently suspended State Teachers' Union (STU) district president Sangameswara Reddy and YSR Teachers' Association representatives Venkatnath Reddy and Amarnath Reddy.
The Disputed Grounds for Suspension
Both Gurumoorthy and Teachers' MLC Kalpalatha alleged that the suspension orders cited the teachers' involvement in the District Selection Committee (DSC) issue — a charge they described as false and unrelated to the Delhi visit. According to them, the three teachers had neither spoken about DSC irregularities nor submitted any representation on the matter; their sole purpose was to seek TET exemption for serving teachers.
'What wrong did they commit? Is fighting for teachers and taking the TET exemption issue to the notice of the Union Government an offence?' Gurumoorthy asked. He described the suspension orders as evidence of a 'vindictive attitude' on the part of the state government.
Kalpalatha's Condemnation
Teachers' MLC Kalpalatha demanded the immediate withdrawal of the suspension orders, asserting that representatives of teacher associations have every democratic right to raise their members' concerns before both state and central governments. She alleged that the suspension orders 'falsely stated' the teachers had participated in a rally concerning DSC irregularities.
'Is raising a genuine problem affecting lakhs of in-service teachers now an offence?' she asked. Kalpalatha warned that punishing teachers for legitimate advocacy signals that the Education Department is being run through what she called 'Red Book' politics, aimed at intimidating anyone who questions the government.
Demands and Warning
Gurumoorthy demanded the immediate revocation of all three suspension orders. He warned that if the government continued to victimise teachers for raising legitimate concerns, 'the teaching community would teach it an appropriate lesson.' The TET exemption issue affects lakhs of in-service teachers across Andhra Pradesh, making it a politically sensitive matter ahead of future electoral cycles.
Point of View
That is a due-process failure, not merely a political dispute. The broader TET-for-in-service-teachers debate is unresolved nationally, and Andhra Pradesh's handling of it risks hardening teacher-union sentiment at a time when the state's education administration can ill afford more friction.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were the three Andhra Pradesh teachers suspended?
The three teachers — Sangameswara Reddy, Venkatnath Reddy, and Amarnath Reddy — were suspended by the Andhra Pradesh government after they travelled to New Delhi as part of a YSRCP delegation to seek TET exemption for in-service teachers. YSRCP leaders allege the suspension orders falsely cite their involvement in a DSC issue that had no connection to their Delhi visit.
What is the TET exemption issue for in-service teachers?
The Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) is a mandatory qualification for school teachers. In-service teachers — those already employed in government schools — have sought exemption from this requirement, arguing that years of service should count in lieu of the test. The YSRCP delegation raised this demand before Union Education Minister Prahlad Joshi in New Delhi.
Who condemned the suspensions?
YSRCP MP M. Gurumoorthy and Teachers' MLC Kalpalatha both strongly condemned the suspensions, calling them vindictive and demanding their immediate revocation. They argued that teachers have every democratic right to represent their concerns before state and central governments.
What is the DSC issue and why is it relevant?
The District Selection Committee (DSC) process relates to teacher recruitment in Andhra Pradesh and has been a separate point of controversy. YSRCP leaders allege that the suspension orders incorrectly attributed DSC-related activity to the three teachers, who they say confined their Delhi visit strictly to the TET exemption demand.
What action has been demanded?
Both YSRCP MP Gurumoorthy and Teachers' MLC Kalpalatha have demanded the immediate withdrawal of all three suspension orders. Gurumoorthy warned that continued victimisation of teachers for raising legitimate concerns would draw a strong response from the teaching community.
