Allowed

Kithana College of Education & Anr. v. National Council for Teacher Education & Anr.

Delhi HC11 Feb 2026W.P.(C)/1637/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

A teacher-education institution's recognition of its four-year integrated B.A.B.Ed/B.Sc.B.Ed course was withdrawn by NRC on the stated ground that recognition had earlier been granted owing to a pending contempt case. The court held this reasoning incorrect, since recognition would have followed due application of mind and applicable procedures even during the contempt, and set aside the withdrawa

What did the court decide?

Decision of NRC in its 453rd Meeting held on 11th-12th December, 2025 withdrawing recognition was set aside.

Kithana College of Education & Anr. Vs National… — Education and Admissions | Delhi HC (2026)

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$~55

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

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- W.P.(C) 1637/2026, CM APPL. 7915/2026

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KITHANA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION & ANR. .....Petitioners Through: Mr. Amitesh Kumar, Ms. Priti Kumari, Mr. Pankaj Kumar Ray, Advs.

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versus

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NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR TEACHER EDUCATION & ANR.

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.....Respondents

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Through: Mr. Anuj kapoor Mr. Nandeesh Nanda Mr. Shivom Sethi, Advs.

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CORAM:

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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASMEET SINGH

O R D E R

11.02.2026

This is a writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following prayers:-

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“a) issue a writ of certiorari or any other suitable writ or order quashing & setting aside impugned decision taken by NRC in its 453rd Meeting (Vol-III) held on 11th & 12th December, 2025 withdrawing recognition of BA.B.Ed/B.Sc.B.Ed four year integrated course of petitioner institution; and/or

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b) issue a writ of mandamus or any other suitable writ or order or direction to respondents to restore recognition of 4 year integrated B.A.B.Ed/B.Sc.B.Ed course with 100 seats (two basic units) with consequential direction to display the name of petitioner institution in the list/category of recognised institutions on their website and to

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This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 18/02/2026 at 12:56:31

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inform the Affiliating University and Department of Higher Education, Government of Haryana regarding recognized status of petitioner institution; and/or”

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The brief facts are that National Council For Teacher Education (“ NCTE ”) issued public notices inviting applications for recognition of various teacher training courses. Pursuant thereof, the petitioner No. 2 submitted its application on 30.06.2015 seeking recognition of B.A.B.Ed./ B.Sc.B.Ed course.

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The State Government of Haryana informed NCTE not to entertain the applications seeking recognition for 4 year course B.A.B.Ed./B.Sc.B.Ed and opening of New B.Ed. colleges in the state henceforth and during the years 2016-17 and 2017-18.

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Being aggrieved by the said decision, the petitioner filed W.P. (C) No. 12756/2018 and vide order dated 18.10.2019 this Court set aside the impugned action and directed respondents to decide petitioner’s application within 12 weeks.

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However, the officials of respondents did not comply with the same, and the petitioner filed a Contempt Petition (C) No. 259/2021.

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Pursuant thereof, the respondents’ officials initiated processing petitioner’s application and NRC in its 342^nd Meeting held on 03.09.2021 decided to issue Letter of Intent to petitioner institute for 4 year integrated B.A.B.Ed./B.Sc.B.Ed. course.

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This Court taking note of the fact that the respondents issued Letter of Intent to petitioner, disposed of the contempt petition vide order dated 09.09.2021.

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Thereafter, NRC in its 356^th Meeting held on 02.12.2021 granted

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This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 18/02/2026 at 12:56:31

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recognition to petitioner institute for running 4 year integrated B.A.B.Ed/B.Sc.B.Ed course with intake of 100 seats from academic session 2022-23.

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Thereafter, in terms of decision taken by NRC in its 356^st Meeting Regional Director, NRC issued recognition order 17.12.2021. 10. Thereafter, NRC in its 389^th Meeting held on 27.12.2022 took up the matter pertaining to the said course of petitioner institute and initiated proceeding under Section 17 of the NCTE Act, 1993 and issued Show Cause Notice dated 27.01.2023 observing that “the recognition was given to these institutions due to compliance of contempt case in the Hon’ble Court”.

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Being aggrieved by aforesaid show cause notice, the petitioner again filed W.P.(C) 1608/2023 and vide order dated 08.02.2023, the Court stayed the show cause notice dated 27.01.2023. 12. Subsequently, the petitioner submitted its application for transition of B.A.B.Ed./B.Sc.B.Ed 4-year integrated course to ITEP course. 13. This Court vide order dated 29.11.2024 disposed of the W.P. (C) 1608/2023.

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NRC after scrutinizing petitioner’s application for transition issued First Show Cause Notice vide email dated 08.01.2025. 15. Thereafter, NRC vide order dated 17.04.2025 refused conversion of existing B.A.B.Ed/B.Sc.B.Ed 4-year integrated course to ITEP Course. 16. Being aggrieved, petitioner filed statutory appeal dated 18.06.2025 before Appellate Authority of NCTE under Section 18 of NCTE Act, 1993 and the Appellate Authority vide order dated 28.08.2025 accepted the appeal and set aside the refusal order dated 17.04.2025 and remanded the matter to NRC.

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This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 18/02/2026 at 12:56:31

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Subsequently, pursuant to public notice dated 12.09.2025, petitioners again submitted application on 05.10.2025. However, NRC vide refusal order dated 25.11.2025 rejecting petitioner’s application for transition.

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Being aggrieved, petitioner filed W.P. (C) No. 19758/2025, wherein vide order dated 24.12.2025 this Court set aside the refusal order dated 25.11.2025 and remanded the matter to NRC.

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As per NRC Minutes of 453^rd Meeting held on 11^th – 12^th December, 2025, NRC took the impugned decision of withdrawal of recognition of B.A.B.Ed. 4 year integrated course under Section 17(1) of NCTE Act, 1993 20. Hence, the present petition. 21. In the 389^th meeting, the respondent observed “the recognition was given to these institutions due to compliance of the contempt case in the High Court.” This is the fountainhead based on which the show cause notice was issued.

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The recognition was given due to compliance of contempt case. However, Mr. Kapoor, learned counsel for the respondents, states that the respondents have decided not to continue with this course and that is also one of the grounds to withdraw recognition.

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Additionally, the date of grant of recognition was post the date of the decision of the respondents to scrap the B.A.B.Ed. course. 24. However, the same is disputed by Mr. Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioners, who states that the course is continuing due to subsequent notifications, including notification dated 06.05.2025.

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For the said reasons, I am of the view that the very foundational assumption of the respondents that recognition was given to the institutions due to compliance of contempt case and to subsequently withdraw the

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This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 18/02/2026 at 12:56:31

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recognition to the petitioner institutes, is incorrect reasoning.

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It is assumed that even when a contempt is pending, the respondent(s) would have given recognition after due application of mind and in accordance with applicable procedures and due compliances. It cannot be withdrawn on the ground that recognition was given because “contempt was pending”.

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Hence, the present petition is allowed and the decision taken by NRC in its 453^rd meeting held on 11^th and 12^th December, 2025 is hereby set aside.

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The present petition is disposed of in aforesaid terms, along with pending applications, if any.

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JASMEET SINGH, J

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FEBRUARY 11, 2026/DM

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This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 18/02/2026 at 12:56:31

Kithana College of Education & Anr. v. National Council for Teacher Education & Anr.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Kithana College of Education & Anr. v. National Council for Teacher Education & Anr.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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Statutes considered

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