Smt S R Herma M ED College & Anr v. National Council for Teacher Education & Anr

O R D E R %

23.03.2026

¶1This is a writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following prayers: "(i) issue a writ of mandamus or any other suitable writ, order or direction to respondents to comply with common final judgment & order dated 24.08.2022 passed in Writ Petition (C) No.5817/2022 and to open the online web portal permitting submission of online application by petitioners for B.Ed, D.El.Ed & M.Ed courses under clause 5 of NCTE (Recognition Norms & Procedure) Regulations, 2014 for the academic year 2027-28; and/or

(ii) issue a writ of mandamus or any other suitable writ, order or direction to Western Regional Committee (WRC) to process and decide the application of petitioners for B.Ed, D.El.Ed & M.Ed courses for academic session 2027-28;..." The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

¶2For the reasons stated in the petition, issue notice.

¶3Mr. Kapoor, learned counsel accepts notice on behalf of the respondents and has drawn my attention to an Order dated 31.01.2023 passed in LPA 507/2022 by the Hon'ble Division Bench, wherein paragraph Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 read as under : "2. Mr. Balbir Singh, learned ASG, and Mr. Sanjay Sharawat, learned Counsel for the Applicant/Respondent, in unison, contend that there is ambiguity regarding the issue as to whether the learned Single Judge could re-hear the entire matter or should he confine himself to the new documents which have been permitted to be filed since this Court has not set aside the Judgment dated 24.08.2022, passed by the learned Single Judge in W.P.(C)2813/2021. Both parties represent that in order to avoid this controversy and in order to give finality to the entire issue it would be expedient in the interest of justice that this Court itself decides the appeal on merits.

¶3Learned Counsel for the Respondents submit that they have no objection if the additional documents filed by the Appellant are accepted by this Court.

¶4In the interest of justice and in view of the joint request made by learned Counsel for the parties, this Court is inclined to accede to the prayer made by both sides to recall the Order dated 18.11.2022.

¶5Resultantly, the application is allowed. LPA 507/2022 is restored to its original number. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

¶6The application is disposed of."

¶4He further states that in the present case, the matter is pending before the Hon'ble Division Bench and therefore the Court should defer the hearing of the present matter until the matter is conclusively adjudicated.

¶5I have heard learned counsels for the parties and perused the documents placed on record.

¶6A Coordinate Bench of this Court decided a batch of writ petitions, one of them being W.P.(C) 2813/2021 vide judgment dated 24.08.2022 directed as under: "50. I am therefore, of the view, that looked at from any angle, the petitions deserve to be allowed. The writ petitions are, accordingly, allowed by directing the respondents to open the online portal within two weeks and thereafter accept and process in a timely manner, the applications, as may be submitted for grant of recognition for conducting new teaching courses for the academic session 2022-23."

¶7The said judgment was modified vide Order dated 31.08.2022 and paragraph Nos. 4 and 5 of the said Order read as under: "4. Accordingly, paragraph no.50 of the judgment is corrected and will now read as:- "I am therefore, of the view, that looked at from any angle, the petitions deserve to be allowed. The writ petitions are, accordingly, allowed by directing the respondents to open the online portal within two weeks and thereafter accept and process in a timely manner, the applications, as may be submitted for grant of The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. recognition for conducting new teaching courses for the academic session 2023-24."

¶5Insofar as Mr. Sharawat's prayer that it may be clarified that the judgment will apply in rem and will therefore be applicable to all affected parties is concerned, I am of the considered view that no clarification in this regard is required. The judgment is clear on this aspect and does not restrict the right of submitting applications only to the petitioners."

¶8Further, the Hon'ble Division Bench vide Order dated 07.05.2024 in LPA 507/2022 held as under: "4. Although the applications will be processed, no final decision will be taken on the applications preferred by the respondents till the disposal of the appeals."

¶9Most importantly, in the 59th General Body Meeting of the National Council for Teacher Education ("NCTE") held on 04.12.2023, the NCTE considered this relevant issue and resolved as under: "2. In this regard, the following facts are submitted: • The NCTE has already introduced ITEP at UG level in alignment with NEP 2020. With regard to PG level, the programme is presently under formulation and may take time. • NCTE is also receiving requests to allow the processing of returned applications for the Master's Degree programmes such as M.Ed. and M.P .Ed. • At present the sanctioned annual intake of M.P.Ed. course The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. 7,375 sancti than sizeab are re the ex • The intend Educa Theref them t

¶3As p its 55 applic M.P.E

¶4Kee propo Gener July applic return and M.Ed. is 60,730 only. Whe ioned intake of teacher education pro these two PG courses is 19,02,398 ble number of M.Ed. and M.P.Ed. qual equired to cater the need of the Teache xisting TEIs. ITEP is an undergraduate programme. d to pursue their Masters/Doctoral degr ation may require the PG programmes fore, the M.P.Ed. and M.Ed. shall prov to specifically undergo the Master's de per decision taken by the General Body 5th meeting held on 14th July 2022 cations submitted by the institutions Ed. course were returned to the instituti eping in view of the above facts and cir osal for modification of the decision ral Body of the NCTE in its 55th meeti 2022 is required to be relaxed cations for M.Ed. & M.P.Ed. cours ned to the institutions." (Em ereas the total ogrammes other

¶8Therefore, a lified candidates er Educators for . The candidates ree in the field of in the discipline. vide avenues for gree. y of the NCTE in 2, the following s for M.Ed. & ions: rcumstances, the n taken by the ing held on 14th to process the e/s which were mphasis added) The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

¶10In view of the Order dated 07.05.2024 read with the minutes of the 59th General Body Meeting of the NCTE held on 04.12.2023, the NCTE itself has resolved to relax the application process for M.Ed. and M.P.Ed. courses, which had been earlier returned to the institutions.

¶11For the said reasons, there is no impediment in this Court directing the respondents to open the online portal and allow submitting of the applications and its processing.

¶12However, no final decision shall be taken on these applications till further Orders in LPA 507/2022 are passed.

¶13The petition is disposed of in the aforesaid terms, along with pending applications, if any. JASMEET SINGH, J MARCH 23, 2026/AS The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 3617/2026 SMT S R HERMA M ED COLLEGE & ANR. .....Petitioners Through: Mr. Amitesh Kumar, Ms. Priti Kumari, Mr. Pankaj Kumar Ray, Advs. versus NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR TEACHER EDUCATION & ANR. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Anuj Kapoor, Mr. Nandeesh Nanda, Mr. Shivom Sethi, Mr. Kshitiz, Advs. for NCTE CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASMEET SINGH