Sarah Tucker Teacher Training Institute v. The National Council For Teacher Education
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 09.07.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C. KUMARAPPAN Writ Petition No.24870 of 2025 and Writ Miscellaneous Petition Nos.28033, 28035 & 28036 of 2025 Sarah Tucker Teacher Training Institute Palayamkottai Tirunelveli District Tamil Nadu-627 002.
Represented by its Correspondent J.Kalaichelvi ... Petitioner ..Vs..
1.The National Council for Teacher Education Rep by its Member Secretary, G-7, Sector-10, Dwarka New Delhi-110075.
2.The Regional Director Southern Regional Committee National Council for Teacher Education Rep by its Member Secretary G-7, Sector-10, Dwarka New Delhi-110075.
3.The Director, State Council of Educational Research and Training College Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600 006.
4. The District Institute of Education and Training 1/9
Munanjipatti Tirunelveli District-627 355.
... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records pertains to the impugned order vide minutes of the 461st meeting of the 2nd respondent NCTE SRC in so far as the petitioner institution is concerned in serial No.63 dated 26th - 27th May 2025 and the consequential impugned order passed by the 3rd respondent vide proceeding in Na.Ka.No.1452997/C3/2025 dated 03.06.2025 quash the same and direct the 2nd respondent to grant permission to conduct D-E1, Ed for the academic year 2025-2026. For Petitioner :
Mr.C.Robert Bruce For Respondents : Mr.J.Hari Krishnan, Standing Counsel for RR1 & 2 Mrs.S.Mythreye Chandru, Special Government Pleader for RR3 & 4
ORDER
The instant writ petition has been filed seeking to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus to quash the impugned order, vide Minutes of the 461st meeting of the 2nd respondent / NCTE SRC and the consequential impugned order, vide proceeding in Na.Ka.No.1452997/C3/2025 dated 03.06.2025 passed by the 3rd respondent.
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2. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner would submit that the petitioner/ Institution is a Government Aided Teacher Training Institute and it was established in the year 1895 and is a pioneer in teacher training. The learned counsel would further submit that the institution has been imparting training in Teacher education for more than 167 years. According to the petitioner, the impugned order was passed without issuing any notice to the petitioner, asking to explain about the queries made in the Show Cause Notice. It is the further submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner that the notice which was sent to the wrong e-mail ID and therefore, the institution was not in a position to respond the Show Cause Notice immediately and in the meanwhile, the petitioner had issued the impugned order.
3. At this juncture the learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the first respondent would submit that they have already sent a notice to the petitioner. Apart from that, the learned Standing Counsel would invite the attention of this Court that under Section 18 of the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993 the petitioner/ Institution has got an appellate remedy before the Appellate Authority. Hence, contended that the present writ petition is not maintainable.
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4. I have given my anxious consideration to the either side submissions and perused the materials available on record.
5. As rightly contended by the learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the first respondent, the petitioner has got appellate remedy under Section 18 of the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993. Though the learned counsel for the petitioner would contend that the petitioner has not received notice, so as to maintain the writ petition, the learned Standing Counsel would strongly object the said contention. At this juncture, it is appropriate to refer that, admittedly the petitioner has got appellate remedy.
6. Accordingly, in the above back ground, this Court finds that the present writ petition is not maintainable and the same is liable to be dismissed. However, this Court gives liberty to the petitioner/Institution to prefer an appeal under Section 18 of the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993 before the Appellate Authority, within a period of two (2) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. On filing of such an appeal, the Appellate Authority is directed to dispose of the same within a period of eight 4/9
(8) weeks, thereafter. Until then, there shall be an order of interim stay of the impugned order dated 27.05.2025, in so far as the petitioner/Institution is concerned.
7. In the result, the present writ petition is dismissed with the above observations. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions stand closed.
09.07.2025 (1/2) ssi Index : Yes Speaking Order : Yes /No To:
1.The National Council for Teacher Education Rep by its Member Secretary, 5/9
G-7, Sector-10, Dwarka New Delhi-110075.
2.The Regional Director Southern Regional Committee National Council for Teacher Education Rep by its Member Secretary G-7, Sector-10, Dwarka New Delhi-110075.
3.The Director, State Council of Educational Research and Training College Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600 006.
4. The District Institute of Education and Training Munanjipatti Tirunelveli District-627 355.
C. KUMARAPPAN, J.
ssi 6/9
W.P.No.24870 of 2025 09.07.2025 (1/2) 7/9
W.P.No.24870 of 2025 and W.M.P.Nos.28033, 28035 and 28036 of 2025 C.KUMARAPPAN, J.
, This writ petition has been listed at request of learned counsel appearing for the petitioner under the caption 'For Being Mentioned'.
2. Heard the learned counsel for both sides.
3. It is the submission of the petitioner that in Paragraph No.7 of the order dated 09.07.2025, though the Court dictated as "disposed of", it is inadvertently typed as 'dismissed'.
4. The learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents 1 and 2 also accepted the factum.
5. Hence, the Registry is directed to substitute Paragraph No.7 of the order dated 09.07.2025 with the following modification:- "7. In the result, the present writ petition is disposed of with the above observations. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions stand closed."
6. The Registry is directed to issue a fresh certified order copy. 06.08.2025 (1/2) dm Note: Issue order copy on 07.08.2025.
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C.KUMARAPPAN, J .
dm W.P.No.24870 of 2025 and W.M.P.Nos.28033, 28035 and 28036 of 2025 06.08.2025 (1/2) 9/9