Summary
The Court advanced the petitioner teacher-training institutions’ recognition from academic session 2022–23 to 2021–22. NCTE had already verified compliance with the required facilities, resources and standards, counselling had not begun, and the processing delay was attributable to NCTE or its committees. The Court extended the judicial cut-off for these cases, directed formal recognition orders within three days and consideration of affiliation or other permissions within fifteen days, and required inclusion in counselling with admissions limited to the sanctioned intake.
Issues
- Whether compliant institutions could obtain recognition for 2021–22 where NCTE’s processing delay led it to grant recognition only from 2022–23.
- Whether the judicial recognition timetable should be extended on these facts before counselling commenced.
Held
- NCTE and its regional committees had scrutinised the institutions’ applications, documents, affidavits, visiting-team material and affiliating-body certificates, and were satisfied about the required infrastructure, instructional facilities, resources and standards. (¶¶ 30, 31, 32, 33)
- With counselling yet to begin and delay attributable to NCTE or its committees, there was no rational basis to postpone already-sanctioned recognition to 2022–23. The Court extended the Maa Vaishno Devi cut-off in the circumstances of these cases. (¶¶ 34, 35(i))
- The petitioners’ recognition was effective from 2021–22. NCTE and its committees had to issue formal orders within three days; State and other authorities had to consider affiliation and requisite permissions within fifteen days. (¶¶ 35(ii), 35(iii), 35(iv))
- The institutions could admit for 2021–22 to the extent sanctioned for 2022–23, and their names had to be included in the counselling programme. The writ petitions and pending applications were disposed of accordingly. (¶¶ 35(v), 35(vi), 36)
Result
Writ petitions allowed; recognition advanced to 2021–22, with formal orders within three days, consideration of affiliation and permissions within fifteen days, and inclusion in counselling.