Vathsala Johnson College Of Teacher Education v. National Council For Teacher Education

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 19.07.2021

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D.KRISHNAKUMAR W.P.No. 17160 of 2020 and WMP.Nos.21212 of 2020 and 9435 of 2021 Vathsala Johnson College of Teacher Education, Rep.by its Correspondent, Mr.S.Johnson Israil ..Petitioner Vs National Council for Teacher Education, Rep. by its Regional Director, Southern Regional Committee, G-7, Section-10, (Near Sector-10 Metro Station) Dwaraka, New Delhi-110075.

..Respondent Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for writ of certiorari, calling for the records and quash the impugned order passed by the respondent vide F.SRC/ NCTE/ APSO9366/ B.Ed/ TN/ 116316 dated 30.07.2020. For Petitioner : Mr.R.Kannan For Respondent : Mr.R.Thirunavukkarasu, NCTE

O R D E R

The writ petitioner has challenged the withdrawn order dated 30.07.2020 on the ground that the respondent has not provided sufficient opportunity to submit his explanation.

2. The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner's college was existing B.Ed & M.Ed institute from the year 2009. After fulfilling the norms and standards prescribed by the respondent, the petitioner's college was granted recognition. Subsequently for grant of continuous recognition, the respondent without considering the reply for show causes notice, without affording any opportunity, has passed an order withdrawing the recognition granted to the petitioner's college. Challenging the same, the present writ petition is filed.

3. According to the learned counsel for the petitioner, the defects pointed out in the show cause notice are relating to production of (i). Certified copy of the land documents, (ii). original blue prints of building plan duly approved by the competent authority, (iii).LUC as per State Government, (iv). BCC in prescribed format as per NCTE guidelines, (v). Staff requirement of 1+15 for 2 basic unit of B.Ed Course and (vi). Form A and the FDRs for Rs.3 lakhs & 5 lakhs.

4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner has submitted that the aforesaid defects pointed out by the respondents are curable defects and the petitioner can produce all the documents before the authority concerned, if the opportunity is granted to the petitioner. Hence, the petitioner seeks to quash the impugned order passed by the respondent.

5. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner has further submitted that the petitioner has submitted his reply dated 07.09.2019 to the show cause notice 30.04.2019 and complied all the defects pointed out by the respondent. But the respondent without considering the same and without assigning any reason, has passed the impugned rejection order. Therefore, the said order is liable to be quashed.

6. On the other hand, the learned standing counsel appearing for the respondent has submitted the respondent has granted opportunities to the petitioner by way of show cause notice dated 30.04.2019, but they have not come forward to comply with the conditions as mentioned in the show cause notice, hence the impugned came to be passed, rejecting the recognition. The learned standing counsel appearing for the respondent further submitted that if the petitioner really aggrieved by the impugned order, the petitioner shall prefer an apply under Section 18 of NCTE Act 1983. Without preferring appeal before the concerned authority, they have preferred the instant writ petition.

7. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner's College and the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent and perused the records.

8. It is seen from the documents that originally the respondent has granted conditional recognition to the petitioner's college on 02.06.2009. Subsequently, at the time of granting continuous recognition, the respondent had issued a show cause notice dated 30.04.2019, directing the petitioner's college to submit certain documents. The petitioner has also submitted the documents as required by the respondent by reply dated 07.09.2019. Thereafter, the impugned withdrawal order

dated 30.07.2020 was passed by the respondent, which according to the petitioner is violative of principles of natural justice.

9. A reading of the impugned order would disclose the fact that though the respondent have mentioned the reply submitted by the petitioner's college, there was no discussion for not considering the reply submitted by the petitioner institution.

10. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that though the petitioner has complied all the defects pointed out by the respondents, agreed to file an appeal before the authority concerned under Section 18 of the Act. 1983. The learned counsel appearing for the respondent informed this Court that the petitioner's institution shall make an appeal before the appellate authority concerned along with relevant documents. The appellate authority shall consider the same and pass appropriate orders.

11. By accepting the aforesaid statements made by the learned counsel appearing for the parties concerned, this Court is inclined to issue the following directions; i. The petitioner's College shall prefer an appeal before the NCTE, Southern Regional Committee, within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. ii.On filing of such appeal by the petitioner's college, the respondent shall consider the same and pass orders on merits, in accordance with law after providing sufficient opportunity to the petitioner, as expeditiously as possible, preferably, within a period of four weeks thereafter.

iii.It is needless to say that, it is open to the petitioner to produce all the relevant documents before the appellate authority.

iv.With the above directions, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.

s/d- Assistant Registrar(CO) True Copy Sub-Assistant Registrar ak

To The Regional Director, National Council for Teacher Education, Southern Regional Committee, G-7, Section-10, (Near Sector-10 Metro Station) Dwaraka, New Delhi-110075.

+1 Cc to Mr.V. Venkatesan, advocate sr 34255 W.P.No. 17160 of 2020 and W.M.P.Nos.21212 of 2020 and 9435 of 2021 SRA(CO) SP(13/08/2021)