Featured image for Supreme Court Judgment dated 24-10-2018 in case of petitioner name Nehru Gram Bharati University vs State of UP & Ors.
| |

Nehru Gram Bharati University vs. State of UP: Supreme Court Upholds High Court Decision on BTC Course Recognition

Updated on

The case of Nehru Gram Bharati University vs. State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors. concerns the legal validity of the BTC (Basic Teachers Certificate) course conducted by the deemed university without proper recognition. The Supreme Court of India, in its judgment dated 24th October 2018, upheld the High Court’s decision rejecting the validity of BTC certificates awarded by the university for the academic sessions 2008-09 and 2009-10, thereby denying their use for teacher appointments in Uttar Pradesh.

Background of the Case

The case originated when students enrolled in the BTC course at Nehru Gram Bharati University (hereinafter referred to as the “Deemed University”) filed writ petitions challenging the rejection of their qualifications for teaching positions. The petitions were filed before the Allahabad High Court after the Director of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) refused to recognize the BTC course offered by the university.

Key events leading to the dispute:

  • The university received deemed university status in 2008, which led to its de-affiliation from Kanpur University.
  • The university admitted students to the BTC course in the academic sessions 2008-09 and 2009-10 without securing proper recognition from the SCERT.
  • The State Government, in a policy decision, restricted the approval of BTC courses to certain institutions.
  • The High Court ruled against the university, stating that it was not authorized to conduct the BTC course for the specified academic years.

High Court Decision

The Single Judge of the High Court ruled that:

  • The university’s BTC course was conducted without obtaining necessary approvals.
  • The students’ degrees were invalid for appointments as teachers.
  • The university was liable to refund the fees and pay Rs. 50,000 compensation to each affected student.

The university filed intra-court appeals, which were dismissed by the Division Bench. The Division Bench upheld the decision, confirming that the university had violated regulatory conditions and conducted the course without compliance.

Arguments by the Petitioner (Nehru Gram Bharati University)

The university presented the following arguments before the Supreme Court:

  • After obtaining deemed university status, it became an examining body under the NCTE Act and did not require separate approval from SCERT.
  • The NCTE (National Council for Teacher Education) had already granted recognition to the university for conducting the BTC course.
  • The students should not suffer due to technical lapses.
  • The policy restricting private institutions from offering BTC courses was later declared illegal by the High Court.

Arguments by the Respondents (State of UP & SCERT)

The State of Uttar Pradesh and SCERT opposed the appeal, stating that:

  • The university was not an authorized examining body for BTC courses.
  • Approval from SCERT was mandatory for conducting teacher training courses.
  • The university admitted students without ensuring regulatory compliance.
  • The government later granted recognition for BTC courses starting from 2012 onwards, not for earlier batches.

Supreme Court Judgment

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s decision, ruling that the university:

  • Did not fulfill necessary conditions for BTC course approval.
  • Could not automatically conduct examinations without regulatory approval.
  • Was required to refund the fees and pay Rs. 50,000 compensation to each affected student.

Key Observations from the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court emphasized:

“The deemed university could not act as an examining body for the BTC course without explicit approval from the SCERT.”

It further ruled:

“The students cannot claim equity when their admissions were made to an unrecognized course. The university must bear responsibility for misleading students.”

Final Judgment

The Supreme Court:

  • Dismissed the university’s appeals.
  • Upheld the High Court’s directive to refund fees and pay Rs. 50,000 compensation to each student.
  • Permitted government authorities to take appropriate action against responsible university officials.

Legal Precedents and Significance

The ruling aligns with established principles that:

  • Teacher training programs must follow regulatory norms for validity.
  • Universities must seek explicit approval before offering professional courses.
  • Students enrolled in unauthorized courses cannot demand automatic recognition.

Conclusion

The case of Nehru Gram Bharati University vs. State of UP sets a crucial precedent for educational institutions, emphasizing strict compliance with regulatory approvals. The ruling ensures accountability for universities offering unapproved courses and protects students from unauthorized academic programs.


Petitioner Name: Nehru Gram Bharati University.
Respondent Name: State of UP & Ors..
Judgment By: Justice A.K. Sikri, Justice Ashok Bhushan.
Place Of Incident: Uttar Pradesh.
Judgment Date: 24-10-2018.

Don’t miss out on the full details! Download the complete judgment in PDF format below and gain valuable insights instantly!

Download Judgment: Nehru Gram Bharati U vs State of UP & Ors. Supreme Court of India Judgment Dated 24-10-2018.pdf

Direct Downlaod Judgment: Direct downlaod this Judgment

See all petitions in Education Related Cases
See all petitions in Judgment by A.K. Sikri
See all petitions in Judgment by Ashok Bhushan
See all petitions in dismissed
See all petitions in Declared Infructuous
See all petitions in supreme court of India judgments October 2018
See all petitions in 2018 judgments

See all posts in Civil Cases Category
See all allowed petitions in Civil Cases Category
See all Dismissed petitions in Civil Cases Category
See all partially allowed petitions in Civil Cases Category

Similar Posts