The Kerala High Court has made it clear that the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) cannot hold educational institutions responsible for its own delay in granting recognition under the Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP).
The Court was addressing a writ petition filed by Majilis Arts & Science College, Malappuram, which had applied for recognition to run ITEP courses for the Academic Year 2025–26. The college had submitted all required documents in May 2024, but the NCTE delayed its final Recognition Order until 01.05.2025, and applied it only to the 2026–27 academic year.
Justice D.K. Singh cited the Supreme Court’s binding directions in Maa Vaishno Devi Mahila Mahavidyalaya v. State of U.P. (2013) 2 SCC 617, which mandates NCTE to communicate deficiencies within 45 days and issue recognition by March 3rd of the academic year concerned. However, in this case, the show cause notice was issued five months later—clearly violating the prescribed timeline.
“When the first respondent/NCTE itself has not adhered to the timeline prescribed in Maa Vaishno Devi Mahila Mahavidyalaya (supra), the NCTE cannot put the blame on the petitioner College for no fault of theirs,”
— Kerala High Court
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The NCTE attributed the delay to backlogs, internal changes, and the absence of key officials. But the Court found this explanation unsatisfactory. It stated that the delay was entirely due to administrative inefficiency, not any fault on the part of the college.
“Statutory bodies are required to be governed effectively and efficiently, and if they are not being governed effectively and efficiently, the Colleges which are seeking recognition and affiliation cannot be made to suffer,”
— Justice D.K. Singh
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The Court observed that the college had submitted all documents well within the stipulated time and followed every directive. Despite this, the NCTE issued the final recognition for the 2026–27 session instead of 2025–26, contradicting even its own Letter of Intent issued earlier.
In light of these facts, the Court allowed the writ petition and directed that the Recognition Order dated 01.05.2025 be considered valid for the Academic Year 2025–26. It also ordered that the college be included in the list of institutions eligible for admission under the ITEP for that academic year.
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“The delay which has occurred is the result of the inefficient work of the respondents, which appears to be not being manned with competence and efficiency,”
— Kerala High Court
Case Information:
- Case No: WP(C) No. 17822 of 2025
- Case Title: The Secretary Cum Manager, Majilis Arts and Science College v. National Council for Teacher Education & Anr.
- Petitioner Counsel: Advs. Smt. Nisha George, Sri. George Poonthottam (Sr.), Smt. Kavya Varma M. M.
- Respondent Counsel: Adv. Dr. Abraham P. Meachinkara (NCTE)
