Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) for issuing conditional recognition to a college despite a stay imposed by the Supreme Court in 2012.
The High Court found that the B.Ed. college run by Sion Educational and Welfare Society Fazilka was allowed to complete the course, but the college did not fulfil the conditions for granting conditional recognition by NCTE.
The High Court said that the career of the students has been endangered by the joint act of NCTE and the petitioner college, who appear to be working in connivance. The bench said that the petitioner college was colluding with NCTE; hence, a fine of Rs 10 lakh is also imposed on the petitioner college, which will be deposited in the PGI Garib Rogi Kosh. In the interest of justice, the court directed that the admission of the students be regularized and proper degrees be issued by the university.
The High Court bench said that NCTE is a product of law, which is bound to refrain from arbitrariness, partiality, or discrimination. In the present case, NCTE has left no stone unturned to show that it is in collusion with the petitioner college. The court said that Punjab University never gave any affiliation to the said college.