SRINAGAR: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has formally appointed a Nodal Officer to oversee and coordinate the implementation of a major Supreme Court judgement concerning the Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) education scheme.
According to an official order issued by the School Education Department on June 15, 2026, Thannaji Bhat, Under Secretary to the Government, has been nominated to lead the comprehensive monitoring, evaluation, and execution of the apex court’s directives.
The decision, issued under Government Order No. 230-JK(Edu) of 2026 by order of the Jammu and Kashmir Government, follows a landmark ruling delivered by the Supreme Court of India on April 30, 2026, in a Special Leave Petition involving the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir against Saba Wani and others.
The apex court’s judgement provides explicit guidelines for considering candidates placed in duly constituted select panels under the ReT scheme for formal engagement and appointment against existing vacancies.
However, these appointments are strictly tethered to specific conditions, including the acquisition of minimum qualifications mandated by National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) regulations, clearing the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), regularisation protocols, and the subsequent determination of seniority. Because the execution of this judgement requires a rigorous verification of a vast volume of historical records—spanning multiple advertisement notices, select panels, prior engagements, and specific district-wise service particulars—the government deemed the establishment of a specialised oversight role essential for timely and legal compliance.
In his capacity as Nodal Officer, Bhat is tasked with several critical administrative functions to bridge gaps between various state apparatuses. He will primarily liaise with the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs alongside other relevant authorities to handle complex legal interpretations arising from the judgement.
Additionally, he is charged with coordinating directly with the Directorates of School Education in both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions to compile, collect, and verify data regarding the empanelled ReT candidates. His office will actively monitor the submission of essential records from subordinate offices regarding vacancy positions, educational qualifications, and the regularisation status of the candidates, whilst maintaining a fully updated, consolidated master database of all individual cases covered under the Supreme Court order.
To ensure the process moves forward without bureaucratic delay, the administration has made it mandatory for all concerned officers and officials within the School Education Department, the regional directorates, and subordinate offices to extend full cooperation. These departments are required to furnish all requisite information and academic or administrative records to the Nodal Officer as requested.
