Supreme Court upholds NCTE notice seeking appraisal reports from teachers’ education institutes

The Supreme Court has upheld a Public Notice issued by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) requiring Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) to submit annual Performance Appraisal Reports. The court dismissed a March 13, 2023 Delhi High Court order that deemed the NCTE's September 22, 2019 Public Notice as arbitrary and illegal.

Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe ruled that the NCTE's regulatory measure is legal, valid, and within its jurisdiction. The Court asserted that TEIs are accountable for ensuring quality education, and the NCTE plays a crucial role in monitoring TEIs' performance. The High Court's decision to set aside the Public Notice was based on the argument that only the Council, not the Executive Committee, could issue such a notice.

However, the Supreme Court disagreed with this opinion, emphasizing the ample powers vested in both the Council and the Executive Committee to call for Performance Appraisal Reports from TEIs.