GOs on inspection panel stayed

Chennai, July 12 (UNI) Madras High Court today stayed the operation of two government orders (GOs) appointing a six-member committee to inspect all B Ed Colleges and Teacher Training Institutions (TTI) recognised by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) during the AIADMK rule from 2001-2006.

While allowing two petitions by the Tamil Nadu Self Finance Colleges of Education Management Association and the Self Financing Private Teacher Training Institutes Association alleging the committee was ''unlawful'' and ''unjust,'' Ms Justice Prabha Srinivasan stayed the GOs issued for B Ed Colleges and TTIs on June 21 and 23 respectively, till July 17.

The petitioners submitted the committee, headed by Retired IAS Officer K Aludaya Pillai did not have jurisdiction as 90 colleges and 105 institutions affiliated to the two associatons were given recognition under a Central Act by the Regional Committee of the NCTE.

The state could only grant no-objection certificates to the educational institutes, they submitted.

The state government is neither the approving body nor the affiliating agency. This makes the governments proposed inspection threat on the colleges highly questionable and objectionable.

''If the move of the state government through the GO was permitted to go on, it will lead to devastating consequences not only in the existence of such educational institutions but also in the very field of education,'' the petitioners said.

UNI XR GM MSJ VC2058