The Punjab and Haryana High Court fined a Fazilka-based BEd institution and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) Rs 20 lakh for awarding conditional recognition against a Supreme Court direction. The payment was shared evenly.
The institution, which is administered by the Syon Educational and Welfare Society, applied for Panjab University affiliation in 2022 to offer admissions to the BEd course in the 2022-23 academic year. The High Court had temporarily permitted the institution to enrol students, resulting in the conclusion of their two-year program in May 2024. However, it was later uncovered that Panjab University never awarded the college the necessary affiliation, and the NCTE offered conditional recognition, which was specifically forbidden by a previous Supreme Court order.
In its findings, the court expressed deep concern over the NCTE’s failure to inform it of the college’s ongoing deficiencies. The NCTE neither attempted to vacate the interim orders passed in August 2022 nor took any measures to update the court on the college’s non-compliance with the conditions under which recognition was granted. The court observed that the NCTE, as a statutory body, is obligated to operate without bias, favouritism, or arbitrariness, all of which were compromised in this case.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal, remarked that the NCTE and the college appeared to be “hand in glove,” collectively endangering the students’ futures. However, considering the students’ interests, the court decided to regularize the admissions and directed Panjab University to issue appropriate degrees to the affected students.
In light of these findings, the High Court imposed an exemplary fine of Rs 10 lakh each on the NCTE and the college. The court also ordered that the fines be deposited into the PGIMER Poor Patient Welfare Fund within 60 days. After completing the necessary investigations, the NCTE was also asked to retrieve the funds from the relevant personnel.
The case demonstrates the court’s robust position against breaches of judicial instructions, as well as its dedication to protecting the rights of students harmed by administrative errors.
