CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has stayed the State Government order appointing a six-member committee to inspect all B.Ed. colleges and teacher training institutions (TTIs) recognised by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) from 2001 to 2006.

Justice Prabha Sridevan granted the interim stay and adjourned the matter to July 17, on separate petitions filed by the Tamil Nadu Self-Finance Colleges of Education Management Association and the Self-Financing Private Teacher Training Institutes Association on Wednesday.

While 90 B.Ed. colleges are members of the B.Ed. colleges association, 105 are members of the self-financing TTIs association.

The petitioners said the order conferring statutory powers on the six-member committee were passed on June 21 and 23. It was mandated to study "mistakes committed by authorities in respect of fulfilment of norms and standards prescribed by the NCTE between 2001-06."

It was also to find out whether approval for staff members in these institutions had been given in accordance with rules.

The GO reiterated that the committee's report must suggest measures to rectify such defects and steps to avoid such complaints.

The petitioners assailed the move on the ground that the high-power committee could not visit each and every institution as 139 B.Ed. colleges were given recognition between 2004 and 2006.

The GO stipulates that the committee must visit these places, inspect and submit a report within 15 days.

Harassment feared

The colleges concerned would be subjected to harassment without any jurisdiction and "unnecessary chaos and confusion would be created in the minds of students," the petitioners said. Pursuant to the GO, regional Joint Directors had been instructed to inspect colleges in their limits and advised to warn the institutions of "dire consequences" if they did not cooperate with the authorities.

The NCTE, applying the provisions of a Central Act, granted recognition to these institutions and the Sate Government had nothing to do with the courses, they said.

"The State Government is neither the approving body nor the affiliating agency. While so, the Government's threat is highly questionable and objectionable."

Claiming that unwanted hardship would be caused to colleges and students if the GO were permitted to be in force, the petitioners sought to quash the order and prayed for a stay on its operation.

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