In Brief
Nehru Gram Bharati, initially a Post Graduate College, received NCTE permission (dated August 16, 2005) to offer a two-year Basic Teachers Certificate (BTC) Course subject to specified conditions. In 2008, it was granted Deemed University status. The Deemed University then admitted students to the BTC Course in 2008-09 and 2009-10 without fulfilling NCTE conditions or obtaining state recognition. Students challenged rejection of their certificates. The Supreme Court held that Deemed University status does not automatically authorize offering BTC courses; BTC remains governed by NCTE (not UGC), and the University must comply with NCTE conditions and obtain state affiliation. The Court upheld the High Court's dismissal of the students' petitions but affirmed compensation awards (fee refund plus Rs. 50,000 per student) because statutory compliance cannot be waived for equity grounds."
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