2021 INSC 0354
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION 
WRIT PETITION (C) NO.518 OF 2021  
DEVENDRA PATHAK SARVODAYA 
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION  ...PETITIONER(S)
VERSUS
NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR TEACHER
EDUCATION AND ORS.        ...RESPONDENT(S)
WITH 
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO.532 OF 2021
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO.793 OF 2021
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO.778 OF 2021
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO.789 OF 2021
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO.794 OF 2021
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO.608 OF 2021
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO.602 OF 2021
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO.601 OF 2021
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO.538 OF 2021
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO.711 OF 2021
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO.823 OF 2021
J U D G M E N T 
B.R. GAVAI, J.
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1. The   facts   in   all   these   bunch   of   petitions   are   almost
similar and as such, are decided by this common judgment.  
2. We   will   refer   to   the   facts   in   the   lead   matter   i.e.   Writ
Petition (Civil) No.518 of 2021 in some detail and would refer to
the bare necessary facts in all other matters.  
Writ Petition (Civil) No.518 of 2021 
3. The   petitioner   college   was   established   as   unaided
training college to impart Bachelor in Teacher Education (B.Ed.)
and Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed.) courses in the
year 2011.  
4. The   petitioner   college   submitted   an   application   to
respondent   No.1   –   National   Council   for   Teacher   Education
(hereinafter referred to as ‘NCTE’) for grant of recognition under
Section 14(1) of the National Council for Teacher Education Act,
1993   (hereinafter   referred   to   as   ‘the   said   Act’)   for   conducting
B.Ed. course with an annual intake of 100 students. 
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5. Vide  order  dated  25.2.2014,  NCTE granted  recognition
for B.Ed. course under one year programme for Academic Year
2014­2015 with an annual intake of 100 students.  
6. Respondent   No.   2   –   Magadh   University,   Bodh   Gaya,
Bihar,   vide   letter   dated   2.8.2014   granted   affiliation   to   the
petitioner   college   to   conduct   admission   with   100   seats   of   one
year   B.Ed.   course   from   Academic   Year   2014­2015   till
continuation of accreditation of NCTE. 
7. By   the   National   Council   for   Teacher   Education
(Recognition,   Norms   and   Procedure)   Regulations,   2014
(hereinafter   referred   to   as   ‘2014   Regulations’),   notified   on
28.11.2014, a two­year B.Ed. course was introduced instead of
one­year   B.Ed.   course   from   Academic   Session   2015­2016
onwards.
8. Petitioner­college   by   an   affidavit   agreed   to   come   under
2014 Regulations and sought for two basic units (100 seats) in
B.Ed.   course,   which   requires   additional   facilities.     Vide   order
dated   23.5.2015,   petitioner­college   was   granted   recognition   for
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two­year B.Ed. course for Academic Session 2015­2016 with an
annual intake capacity of 100 seats.  Petitioner­college was also
granted   recognition   for   D.El.Ed.   course   vide   order   dated
2.5.2016   with   an   annual   intake   of   50   seats   for   two   years
duration from Academic Session 2016­2017 to 2017­2018.  
9. On 3.6.2016, after receiving NOC, the petitioner­college
submitted its online application to NCTE seeking recognition for
additional two units (100 seats) for D.El.Ed. and B.Ed. courses
along with relevant documents. 
10. Vide   order   dated   26.9.2017,   respondent   No.3   –   Bihar
School   Examination  Board granted  affiliation   to  the  petitioner­
college for conducting D.El.Ed. course with one unit (50 seats)
from Academic Session 2017­2019.  
11. In   the   280 th
  meeting   of   NCTE,   held   on   29.2.2020   and
1.3.2020, a visiting team was constituted under the provisions
of Section 15 of the said Act so as to inspect the infrastructure
and   instructional   facilities   for   additional   intake   in   B.Ed.   and
D.El.Ed. courses.   However, on account of Covid­19 pandemic,
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inspection   could   not   take   place   as   scheduled.     Subsequently,
inspection   in   the   petitioner­college   came   to   be   conducted   on
8.3.2021   and   a   letter   of   intent   was   issued   in   favour   of   the
petitioner­college   by   NCTE   for   additional   intake   in   B.Ed.   and
D.El.Ed. courses as to the proposal submitted by the petitioner­
college on 10.6.20216.   In the 290 th
  meeting  held on 3.3.2021,
NCTE   found   that   the   petitioner­college   has   adequate   facility
required   for   conducting   teachers’   courses.     Petitioner­college
was   therefore   asked   to   intimate   its   willingness   on   an   affidavit
about the number of units sought for the purpose of granting of
the formal recognition.  Petitioner­college replied thereto stating
that   the   petitioner­college   has   the   necessary   infrastructure   for
additional intake of two units for B.Ed. course and two units for
D.El.Ed.   course.     Recognition   was   granted   to   the   petitioner­
college   for   additional   intake   of   two   units   in   B.Ed.   course   and
two units in D.El.Ed. course in the 291 st
 meeting of NCTE, held
on 12.4.2021.   However, by the said resolution, the recognition
has   been   granted   for   Academic   Year   2022­2023   and   not   for
Academic Year 2021­2022.  
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12. In   this   background,   the   petitioner­college   has
approached this Court seeking a direction to the respondents to
grant recognition for Academic Year 2021­2022. 
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 532 OF 2021
13.   In the present case, the petitioner­college had applied
in   pursuance   to   the   public   notice   issued   by   NCTE   in   the   year
2015 thereby   inviting   applications  for  running  D.El.Ed.  course
from   Academic   Session   2016­2017.     Though   the   petitioner’s
application   was   pending   since   2015,   the   Eastern   Regional
Committee of NCTE (hereinafter referred to as ‘ERC’) in its 292 nd
meeting, held on 20.4.2021, decided to grant recognition to the
petitioner­college   from   Academic   Session   2022­2023.     The
petitioner has, therefore, approached this Court seeking similar
relief   for   a   direction   to   grant   recognition   from   the   Academic
Year 2021­2022.  
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 793 OF 2021
14. In the present case also, the petitioner, in pursuance to
the   public   notice   issued   by   the   NCTE   in   the   year   2015,   made
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an   application   for   running   B.Ed.   and   D.El.Ed.   courses.     The
Department   of   School   Education   and   Literacy   Department
(Primary   Education   Secretariat),   State   of   Jharkhand   has   also
granted   ‘No   Objection   Certificate’   (NOC)   for   running   D.El.Ed.
course   on   26.2.2016.     The   application   of   the   petitioner   was
rejected by ERC vide order dated 14.4.2016 insofar as D.El.Ed.
course  is  concerned.     The  reason   given   was  that   the  NOC   had
not   been   received   from   the   Directorate   of   Primary   Education,
Government of Jharkhand.     ERC  also rejected the application
of   the   petitioner   for   B.Ed.   vide   order   dated   14.4.2016   on   the
ground that the institution has not submitted the NOC  for  the
D.El.Ed. programme and as such, recognition for B.Ed. course
cannot be granted.  
15. There   was   a   series   of   litigation   between   the   petitioner
and   the   NCTE.     The   Division   Bench   of   the   Jharkhand   High
Court   vide   order   dated   2.4.2019   allowed   LPA   no.148   of   2018
and   directed   ERC   and   NCTE   to   revive   the   application   of   the
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petitioner and to process the same for Academic Session 2020­
2022.  
16. Thereafter, there were certain correspondences between
ERC   of   NCTE   and   the   petitioner   with   regard   to   certain
compliances.     Finally,   ERC   in   its   293 rd
  meeting,   held   on
9.6.2021,   decided   to   grant   recognition   to   the   petitioner   for
conducting D.El.Ed. and B.Ed. courses from Academic Session
2022­2023   with   an   annual   intake   of   100   seats   (two   units)   in
each course.  
17. In this background, the petitioner has approached this
Court seeking a similar relief. 
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 778 OF 2021
18. The   petitioner   applied   for   grant   of
permission/recognition  to  run  D.El.Ed. course on  5.7.2016  for
two units of 50 students each.  NCTE granted permission to the
petitioner   on   14.2.2018   to   run   one   unit   i.e.   50   students   in
respect   of   D.El.Ed.   course.     There  were   certain   litigations   with
regard to non­grant of second unit to the petitioner.  Finally, in
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its 291 st
  meeting, held on 12.4.2021, ERC decided to issue one
additional   unit   of   intake   to   the   petitioner   for   running   D.El.Ed.
course   from   Academic   Session   2022­2023.     Petitioner   also
seeks similar relief as sought by the other petitioners. 
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 789 OF 2021
19. The   petitioner   had   applied   on   20.10.2008   for
conducting   B.Ed.   course   with   intake   of   100   students   (two
units).     There   were   series   of   litigations   between   the   petitioner
and   the   North   Regional   Committee   of   the   NCTE   (hereinafter
referred   to   as   ‘NRC’).     On   13.1.2021,   the   Western   Regional
Committee of the NCTE (hereinafter referred to as ‘WRC’), which
now has the jurisdiction to process the applications pertaining
to institutions in Rajasthan, issued letter of intent after finding
no   deficiency   in   the   petitioner­institution.       WRC   in   its   337 th
meeting   (virtual)   held   on   7 th
­9 th
  July,   2021,   decided   to   grant
recognition   to   the   petitioner­institution   for   conducting   B.Ed.
with intake of two units (100 seats) from the Academic Session
9

2022­2023.     In   this   background,   the   petitioners   approached
this Court seeking similar relief. 
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 794 OF 2021
20. In   the   present   case   also,   the   petitioner­college   in
response   to   the   public   notice   issued   in   the   year   2015   by   the
NCTE   applied   on   30.6.2015   for   grant   of   recognition   for   B.Ed.
course   from   Academic   Session   2016­2017.     Vide   order   dated
10.11.2016, the application of the petitioner­college came to be
rejected   by   the   WRC   in   its   262 nd
  meeting.   The   petitioner
preferred   statutory   appeal,   which   was   allowed   and   WRC   was
directed   to   reconsider   the   issue.     After   series   of
correspondences and some litigation, WRC in its 337 th
  meeting
decided   to   grant   recognition   to   the   petitioner   for   conducting
B.Ed.   course   from   the   Academic   Session   2022­2023.       The
petitioner   has   therefore   approached   this   Court   seeking   similar
relief. 
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 608 OF 2021
10

21. The petitioner in pursuance to the public notice issued
by   NCTE   in   the   year   2015   applied   for   grant   of   recognition   for
conducting B.Ed. course from the Academic Session 2016­2017
with   an   annual   intake   of   100   students.   The   said   application
was made on 2.6.2015.  After a long period of six years, ERC in
its   292 nd
  meeting,   held   on   20.4.2021,   decided   to   grant
recognition   to   the   petitioner­institution   for   conducting   B.Ed.
course   of   two   years   duration   with   an   annual   intake   of   100
students   (two   basic   units)   from   the   Academic   Session   2022­
2023.     As   such,   petitioner   has   approached   this   Court   seeking
similar relief.
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 602 OF 2021
22. In  the  present   case  also,  the   petitioner, in   response  to
the public notice issued by the NCTE, submitted its application
in   the   year   2016   for   grant   of   recognition   for   conducting   B.Ed.
and   D.El.Ed.   courses.   The   application   of   the   petitioner­college
came to be rejected in the year 2018.   Being aggrieved thereby,
the   petitioner   had   approached   the   Delhi   High   Court   by   filing
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Writ Petition (Civil) No. 5888 of 2018.  The Delhi High Court by
order dated 28.5.2018 directed ERC to consider the application
of the petitioner   de hors   the requirement of NOC.   Accordingly,
ERC   in   its   291 st
  meeting,   held   on   12.4.2021,   granted
recognition to the petitioner for conducting B.Ed. and D.El.Ed.
courses for two units (100 students) from the Academic Session
2022­2023.     The   petitioner   therefore   approached   this   Court
seeking similar relief. 
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 601 OF 2021
23. In  the  present   case  also,  the   petitioner, in   response  to
the public notice issued in the year 2015 by the NCTE, sought
recognition   for   conducting   B.Ed.   course   from   the   Academic
Session 2016­2017 with an annual intake of 100 students vide
application dated 15.6.2015.  The said application was pending
for   a   period   of   six   years   and   finally   ERC   in   its   292 nd
  meeting
held   on   20.4.2021   granted   recognition   to   the   petitioner   for
conducting   B.Ed.   course   of   two­year   duration   with   an   annual
intake of 100 students (two basic units) from Academic Session
12

2022­2023.  The petitioner thus approached this Court seeking
similar relief.  
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 538 OF 2021
24. In  the  present   case  also,  the   petitioner, in   response  to
the public notice issued in the year 2015 by the NCTE, sought
recognition   for   conducting   D.El.Ed.   course   from   the   Academic
Session 2016­2017 with an annual intake of 100 students vide
application dated 15.6.2015.  The said application was pending
for   a   period   of   six   years   and   finally   ERC   in   its   292 nd
  meeting
held   on   20.4.2021   granted   recognition   to   the   petitioner   for
conducting   D.El.Ed.   course   of   two­year   duration   with   an
annual intake of 100 students (two basic units) from Academic
Session 2022­2023.  The petitioner thus approached this Court
seeking similar relief.  
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 711 OF 2021
25. In the present case, the petitioner had applied for grant
of   recognition   for   conducting   B.Ed.   course   with   intake   of   100
students   (two   units)   on   24.12.2012.     The   said   application   was
13

returned on ban imposed by the Government of Haryana.   The
petitioner   therefore   approached   the   Delhi   High   Court   by   filing
Writ   Petition   (Civil)   No.2383   of   2018.     The   said   petition   was
allowed   on   14.3.2018   thereby   directing   the   respondents   to
reconsider   the   petitioner’s   application.     NRC   in   its   295 th
meeting   issued   show   cause   notice   to   the   petitioner   to   which
reply   was   submitted   by   the   petitioner   on   29.3.2019.     The
petitioner   again   approached   the   Delhi   High   Court   by   way   of
filing   Writ   Petition   (Civil)   No.2835   of   2019   and   the   Delhi   High
Court remanded the matter to NRC for reconsideration by order
dated 6.11.2019.  NRC, in its 335 th
 (virtual) meeting, decided to
grant   recognition   to   the   petitioner­institution   for   conducting
B.Ed.   course   of   two­year   duration   with   an   intake   of   100   seats
(two basic units) from the Academic Session 2022­2023.  Thus,
the petitioner approached this Court seeking similar relief. 
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 823 OF 2021
26. The petitioner had submitted its application in the year
2015 for conducting B.Ed. course.   A letter of intent also came
14

to   be   issued   to   the   petitioner.     There   were   exchange   of
communications between NRC and the petitioner leading to no
result.     As   such,   the   petitioner   filed   a   writ   petition   being   Writ
Petition   (Civil)   No.1522   of   2021   before   the   Delhi   High   Court.
The   said   petition   came   to   be   disposed   of   by   order   dated
5.2.2021   directing   the   respondents   to   consider   the   petitioner’s
application   within   10   weeks.   In   term   of   the   decision   taken   by
NRC  in its 336 th
  meeting, by order  dated 28.6.2021, it granted
recognition   to   the   petitioner   for   conducting   B.Ed.   course   from
the   Academic   Session   2022­2023   with   annual   intake   of   50
students.   Hence, the petitioner approached this Court seeking
similar relief as sought by the other petitioners. 
27. We   have   heard   Shri   Amitesh   Kumar,   Shri   Shreeyash
Uday   Lalit   and   Shri   Mayank   Manish,   learned   counsel   for   the
petitioners,   Ms.   Manisha   T.   Karia,   learned   counsel   for   NCTE,
Dr.   Manish   Singhvi,   learned   Senior   Counsel   appearing   for   the
State   of   Rajasthan   and   Shri   Kunal   Chatterji,   learned   counsel
for West Bengal Board of Primary Education.  
15

28. It is contended on behalf of the petitioners that though
NCTE or its Regional Committees after having satisfied granted
recognition   to   the   petitioners­colleges/institutions   for   the
Academic Year 2022­2023, for no reason, the recognition is not
granted for the Academic Year 2021­2022.  It is submitted that
the   petitioners   have   fully   complied   with   all   the   infrastructural
requirements   of   the   NCTE   and   there   is   no   reason   as   to   why
recognition should not be granted for the Academic Year 2021­
2022.  
29. Ms.   Manisha   T.   Karia,   learned   Advocate­on­Record   for
the   NCTE   submitted   that   taking   into   consideration   the   time
frame   as   is   prescribed   by   this   Court   in   the   case   of   Maa
Vaishno   Devi   Mahila   Mahavidyalaya   v.   State   of   Uttar
Pradesh   and   others 1
,     the   recognition   has   been   granted   only
from the Academic Year 2022­2023 and not from the Academic
Year   2021­2022.     Learned  counsel   for   the   respondent   –   States
also submit that the petitions deserve to be dismissed. 
1   (2013) 2 SCC 617
16

30. As could be seen from the facts narrated herein above,
proposal   of   the   petitioners   for   grant   of   recognition   for
conducting   either   B.Ed.   course   or   D.El.Ed.   course   or   for   both
have   been   pending   for   considerable   periods.     In   some   cases,
they have been pending as long as for a period of six years.   In
some cases, there has been series of litigations.  
31. However, the factor that is common in all the matters is
that NCTE or its Regional Committees, after considering all the
necessary   requirements,   have   granted   recognition   for
conducting   B.Ed./D.El.Ed.   course   for   Academic   Session   2022­
2023.  
32. It   will   be   relevant   to   refer   to   paragraph   2   of   the   order
dated   19 th
  April,   2021   passed   by   the   NCTE   in   the   lead   matter
i.e. Writ Petition (Civil) No.518 of 2021, which read thus:
“2. AND   WHEREAS ,   on   scrutiny   of   the
application   submitted   by   the   institution,   the
documents   attached   therewith   the   affidavit
submitted and the report received from VT and
videography,  and the  certificates received from
the   affiliating   body,   the   Committee   is   satisfied
that   the   applicant   fulfils   the   requirements
17

under   the   provisions   of   NCTE   Act,   Rules   and
relevant   Regulations   including   the   Norms   and
Standards   for   the   said   teacher   education
programme   such   as   instructional   facilities,
infrastructural   facilities,   financial   resources,
etc., for running the  programme.”
33. Perusal   of   the   other   petitions   would   reveal   that   either
identical   or   similar   reasons   have   been   given   while   granting
recognition.     It   could   thus   be   seen   that   recognition   has   been
granted by NCTE or its Regional Committees on scrutiny of the
applications   submitted   by   the   institutions,   the   documents
attached   therewith,   the   affidavits   submitted   and   the   reports
received from Visiting Teams and videography.  It also mentions
that   the   Committee   was   satisfied   that   the   applicant(s)   fulfills
the   requirement   under   the   provisions   of   NCTE   Act,   rules   and
relevant   Regulations,   after   considering   the   certificates   issued
from   the   affiliating   bodies.     The   order   also   records   its
satisfaction with regard to Norms and Standards for the teacher
education   programme   such   as   instructional   facilities,
infrastructural   facilities,   financial   resources,   etc.   for   running
the programme.
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34.  After arriving at such a satisfaction, we are of the view
that   there   can   be   no   rational   for   NCTE   or   its   Regional
Committee   to   deny   the   recognition   from   the   Academic   Year
2021­2022   and   insist   on   recognition   for   Academic   Session
2022­2023.     It   is   not   in   dispute   that   the   counselling   for
admission   is   yet   to   commence.     Insofar   as   the   time­line
prescribed   in   the   judgment   of   this   Court   in   the   case   of   Maa
Vaishno   Devi   Mahila   Mahavidyalaya   (supra)   is   concerned,
this   Court   itself   in   catena   of   orders   placed   on   record   has
modified the time­line fixed therein.   We find that same course
needs   to   be   followed   in   the   present   matter,   particularly,   when
the   delay   is   not   attributable   to   the   petitioners,   but,   on   the
contrary to NCTE or its Regional Committees.  
35. We therefore allow the petitions in the following terms:
(i) The   cut­off   date   fixed   by   this   Court   in   Maa
Vaishno  Devi  Mahila  Mahavidyalaya   (supra) is
extended in the facts of these cases;
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(ii) It is  held and  declared that  the  petitioners would
be   entitled   to   the   recognition   granted   by
respective  orders   passed  by   NCTE  or   its  Regional
Committees   from   the   Academic   Session   2021­
2022 instead of Academic Session 2022­2023.
(iii) The   Respondent   –   NCTE   and   its   Regional
Committees   are   directed   to   issue   formal
orders/notifications in that regard within a period
of three days from today. 
(iv) The   State   and   other   Authorities   would   consider
grant   of   affiliation   and/or   other   requisite
permissions   within   a   period   of   15   days   from
today;
(v) The   petitioners   would   be   entitled   to   admit   the
students   for   Academic   Session   2021­2022   as   per
the   sanction   granted   by   NCTE   for   the   Academic
Session 2022­2023. 
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(vi) The   name   of   the   petitioner­colleges/institutions
shall   be   included   in   the   counselling   programme
for admissions.  
36. The   writ   petitions   are   allowed   and   disposed   of   in   the
above   terms.     Consequently,   all   pending   applications   shall
stand disposed of. 
…..….......................J.
[R.F. NARIMAN]
…….........................J.       
[B.R. GAVAI]
NEW DELHI;
AUGUST 11, 2021.
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