IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 13-02-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY and W.M.P.No.5677 & 5680 of 2026 St.Marry’s Teacher Training Institute for Women, No.100/15, Ambur road, Vadamalaisamuthiram Vickramasingapuram - 627 425.

Ambasamudram Taluk, Tirunelveli District, Rep. by its Correspondent, Mr.M.S.Mani, ..Petitioner Vs

1. The National Council for Teacher Education, Rep. by its Member Secretary, G-7, Sector -10, Dwarka, New Delhi - 110 075.

2. The Regional Director, Southern Regional Committee, National Council for Teacher Education, Rep. by its Member Secretary, G-7, Sector - 10, Dwarka, New Delhi - 110 075.

3. The Secretary to Government, School Education Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

4. The Director, State Council for Education Research and Training, College Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 006.

5. The Principal, District Institute of Education and Training Munanjipatti, Tirunelveli District - 627 355.

..Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for the issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, call for the records of proceedings of second respondent in his File No.NCTE/2025/2SRC/PAR/ORDER/ APS04297/149003, dated 20.05.2025 and quash the same and consequently directing the Respondent herein to permit the petitioner Institution to participate in the counselling process and admit students for the academic session commencing from 2025- 2026 and to uploaded on the website of the second respondent by treating the petitioner institution on par with the similarly placed institutions.

For Petitioner: Mr.J.Selvarajan For Respondent: Mr.J.Harikrishna Standing Counsel for R1 & R2 Mr.A.M.Ayyadurai Government Advocate for R3 to R5

ORDER

The writ petition is filed calling for the records relating to the impugned order dated 20.05.2025, to quash the same and consequently to direct the respondents to permit the petitioner institution to participate in the counselling process and admit students for the academic session commencing from 2025–

2026.

2. When the matter came up for hearing, the learned counsel for both sides submitted that the matter is no longer res integra. In similar matters, orders have been passed giving liberty to the institutions to file an appeal under Section 18 of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) Act, 1993 before the Appellate Authority and in the meanwhile, the impugned order remains stayed until the disposal of the appeal. One such order passed in W.P.No.24875 of 2025 is brought to the notice of this Court.

3. This apart, the learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that additionally, when matters were pending before the Delhi High Court, pursuant to the interim directions given, the respondents themselves have published a list of institutions against whom the order will be deemed to have remained stayed and permitted them to take part in counselling and the petitioner institution’s name is also published.

4. Be that as it may, since the issue is covered by the earlier judgment of this Court in W.P.No.24875 of 2025 etc., this writ petition is disposed of on the following terms:

(i) Within two weeks from the date of receipt of the web copy of the order, without waiting for the certified copy of the order, the petitioner shall file an appeal under Section 18 of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) Act, 1993 before the Appellate Authority of NCTE against the impugned order dated 20.05.2025.

(ii) Such appeal on being filed, shall be taken up in accordance with law and decided by treating the appeal as filed within time and considering the same on its own merits.

(iii) Until the disposal of the appeal, the impugned order dated

20.05.2025 shall remain stayed, thereby meaning that the petitioner institution will be permitted to participate in the counselling process, be allotted students and admit the students and the academic sessions can continue. The name of the petitioner insti