The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Union Education Ministry, the University Grants Commission (UGC), and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in response to a petition seeking reforms in the accreditation process for higher education institutions in India.
NGO Bistro Destino Foundation
The petition, filed by the NGO Bistro Destino Foundation, alleges that the current system followed by NAAC lacks transparency and fairness. The petitioner has urged the court to direct authorities to take necessary steps to ensure that colleges and universities are evaluated through a more transparent and unbiased framework.
A bench comprising Justices P S Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi took note of the concerns and stated, “We wish to go deep into the matter and know how NAAC is functioning. Issue notice. Liberty to file additional documents.”
More Into The Case
The NAAC, established in 1994, is an autonomous body under the UGC that assesses and accredits higher education institutions based on key parameters such as curriculum, faculty, infrastructure, research, and financial management. Its ratings play a crucial role in determining the credibility and funding of institutions across the country.
According to the plea, the current evaluation system lacks consistency and may be prone to errors or biases. The petitioner has called for an overhaul of the grading process to enhance accountability and ensure that institutions are judged on a level playing field.
The court’s intervention could lead to greater scrutiny of NAAC’s internal mechanisms and potentially pave the way for much-needed reforms in the country’s higher education accreditation system.
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