The Supreme Court on Thursday granted a two-year extension to 10,323 school teachers whose services were terminated by Tripura High Court in 2014, terming the recruitment rules “unconstitutional”.

The apex court had upheld the high court verdict in March 2017 and their jobs were terminated from December 31.

Tripura law secretary Datamohan Jamatia said a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, heard the state government’s petition on extending the teachers’ tenure.

“The bench accepted our plea and extended their services till June 30, 2020. The state government was asked to submit details of action taken to publicise its sponsorship of BEd and DEd courses to equip eligible candidates in taking up the vacant teaching positions,” he said.

The hearing of affidavits from the state and central governments will be held after four months.

Bhaskar Deb, secretary of Left-backed teachers’ organisation Amra 10,323, hailed the Supreme Court verdict and efforts of the BJP-led state government. “The state government deserves a big thanks. They pleaded before the Supreme Court to extend our job tenure and we got the extension,” he said.

State BJP general secretary Pratima Bhowmik said saving the jobs of the 10,323 teachers was among the party’s pre-poll promises. “I welcome the Supreme Court verdict,” she said.

However, state CPM secretary Bijan Dhar said, “The 10,323 teachers need a permanent solution and this is just a temporary relief.”

PCC vice-president Tapas Dey said the apex court judgment had given relief to teachers apprehending termination everyday. “But the state government should come up with a policy to give them regular jobs before their ad hoc period runs out,” he said.

The 10,323 teachers were inducted on an ad hoc basis for six months by the erstwhile Left Front government. After the high court terminated their service in 2014, the Left Front government challenged the verdict in the Supreme Court, which upheld the high court verdict in 2017.