Gnanodhaya Teacher Training Institute v. The Director
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 02.07.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN and W.M.P.Nos.26686, 26687 and 26689 of 2025 Gnanodhaya Teacher Training Institute, No.1/60, Polwells Road, St.Thomas Mount, Chennai - 600 016 Rep. by its Correspondent R.Nathaniel Nesakumar, S/o. Raja Solomon.
... Petitioner Vs.
1. The Director, National Council for Teacher Education, Wing II, Hans Bhawan 1, Bhadur Shaw Zafar Marg, New Delhi - 110 002.
2. The Regional Director, The Southern Regional Committee, Notional Council for Teacher Education, 1st Floor, CSD Building, HMT Post, Bangalaore - 560 013.
... Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorari, to call for the records relating to the impugned order issued by the second respondent in File No.NCTE/2025/SRC/PAR/ORDER/AOS00061 dated 21.05.2025 and to quash the same.
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For Petitioner : Mr.G.Sankaran, Senior Counsel for Mr.S.Nedunchezhiyan For Respondents : Mr.V.Muthuraja, for Mr.J.Harikrishna, Standing Counsel *****
O R D E R
The instant writ petition has been filed challenging the order dated dated 21.05.2025 passed by the second respondent.
2. Mr.J.Harikrishna, the learned Standing Counsel takes notice for the respondents. By consent of the parties, the main writ petition is taken up for disposal at the time of admission stage itself.
3. The learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner Institute, viz., Gnanodhaya Teacher Training Institute, was established in 1926, with the aim of empowering girl children from poor and downtrodden backgrounds with professional education to secure employment as teachers. It is the further submission of the learned Senior Counsel that the impugned order dated 21.05.2025 is vitiated by errors of law due to noncompliance with the principles of natural justice. Therefore, the Writ Petition 2/6
is maintainable. He would further submit that without considering the reply sent by the petitioner, the second respondent had passed the order. Hence, he prayed for interference with the impugned order.
4. At this juncture, the learned Standing Counsel for the respondents would invite the attention of this Court to the provisions of the NCTE Act, 1993. According to the above provisions, there is an appeal remedy available to the petitioner, which fact was also mentioned in the impugned order itself.
5. However, it is the contention of the learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner that the principles of natural justice have not been followed, as some of the replies sent by the petitioner were not considered by the respondents.
6. Though such an objection was raised by the learned Senior Counsel, since it involves the consideration of factual matrix, this Court deems it appropriate to direct the petitioner to pursue appeal remedy before the Appellate Authority within a reasonable time. In this regard, it is appropriate to extract the impugned order, which in clause 9, mentions as follows:- 3/6
"9. If the institution is not satisfied with this order, it may prefer an appeal under Section 18 of the NCTE Act, 1993 though online mode available on NCTE website https://ncte.gov.in/Appeal/Form/login.aspx. within 60 days from the date of issue of this order."
7. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the petitioner to file an appeal before the Appellate Authority within a period of one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. On filing of such appeal, the Appellate Authority is directed to dispose of the same within a period of eight weeks thereafter. It is made clear that further proceedings pursuant to the impugned order dated 21.05.2025 are stayed till the disposal of the appeal. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. No costs.
02.07.2025 kv Index : Yes/No Speaking order /Non Speaking Order To 4/6
1. The Director, National Council for Teacher Education, Wing II, Hans Bhawan 1, Bhadur Shaw Zafar Marg, New Delhi - 110 002.
2. The Regional Director, The Southern Regional Committee, Notional Council for Teacher Education, 1st Floor, CSD Building, HMT Post, Bangalaore - 560 013.
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C.KUMARAPPAN, J.
kv 02.07.2025 6/6