A B.Ed degree obtained from a university, even if recognized by the UGC, is invalid for employment purposes unless the specific teacher education program is recognized by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) under the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993.

JUDGMENT

Petitioner is presently working as a High School Teacher in Mathematics at P. P. M Higher Secondary School, Kottukkara, Kondotty. He has submitted an application for the issuance of an equivalency certificate in respect of Exhibit-P3 degree awarded to him by the Sangai International University, Manipur. However, the said application was rejected stating that the said University is not included in the list of recognised private Universities published by the University Grants Commission.

2. Petitioner contends that, at the time he passed the Degree course in 2017, Sangai International University had the approval of the UGC, and therefore, the subsequent withdrawal of recognition cannot annul the Degree secured by the petitioner. When his application for issuance of equivalency certificate was rejected, he approached this Court in W.P(C). No.35629 of 2024, and by judgment dated 18.10.2024, this Court set aside the said order and directed the University to reconsider the application for issuance of an equivalency certificate. Subsequent to the said judgment, the University, once again, by Exhibit-P13 order dated 15.04.2025, directed the petitioner to produce the documents to show that the B. Ed Degree obtained by him had the necessary recognition from the National Council for Teacher Education (for short ‘NCTE’), which was not a reason mentioned earlier. Subsequently, petitioner produced a letter from the college in which he studied, which was not accepted by the University as per Exhibit-P15 communication. It is in such circumstances that the petitioner has approached this Court seeking to quash Exhibit-P13 and Exhibit-P15 as well for a direction to respondents 1 and 2 to issue an equivalency certificate for the B. Ed Degree awarded to the petitioner.

3. I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as the learned Standing Counsel for the respondent University. Though service of notice on the third respondent has not yet been completed, considering the nature of relief sought for, I am of the view that the writ petition can be disposed of.

4. The NCTE is a statutory body for the coordinated development of teacher education. Section 17(4) of the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993 provides that qualification in teacher education from an unrecognised institution is not valid for employment. Petitioner has not produced any record to show that the NCTE had recognised the B. Ed Degree obtained by the petitioner from the Sangai International University, Manipur. In the absence of any recognition from the NCTE, the B. Ed degree obtained by the petitioner cannot be treated as valid. Mere recognition of the institution by the UGC is not sufficient. The course offered and the degree obtained by the petitioner ought to have been recognised by the NCTE as well. The recognition of the UGC as claimed by the petitioner, is not sufficient to issue an equivalency of the B. Ed Degree obtained by him in the absence of recognition of the degree by NCTE.

In the abvoe circumstances, I do not find any merit in the writ petition, and hence, it is dismissed.