SC to decide whether D.El.Ed through distance learning, for 18 months, is equivalent to a 2-year Diploma Course, as prescribed by NCTE

In a recent order, the Supreme Court (SC) of India issued notice in an appeal filed against the Calcutta High Court's judgment that the 18-month diploma holders were not eligible for the 2022 teacher recruitment process in West Bengal. The SC bench constituting Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice SVN Bhatti was hearing the matter and passed an order stating “The counsel (Learned Senior Counsel Ms. V. Mohana, appearing for the petitioners) would submit that the key issue in this case is whether the Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) through distance learning, for a period of 18 months, is equivalent to a 2-year Diploma Course, as prescribed by the NCT. This is also the issue in the transfer petitions filed by others.” Further, the bench tagged the present case with another set of cases pending before the court. 

Initially, the petitioner approached the High Court challenging the exclusion of candidates holding 18-month D.El.Ed diploma from the West Bengal’s teacher recruitment process. The HC dismissed the petition, relying on the top court’s decision in the Jaiveer Singh & Ors. case where the SC held that the 18-month D.El.Ed courses offered by the NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) could not be considered equivalent to the 2-year diploma as prescribed by the NCTE (National Council for Teacher Education). Aggrieved by the High Court’s decision, the petitioners approached the top Court. The SC on August 14 passed an order illustrating that it will decide the issue of whether the Diploma in Elementary Education through distance learning, for 18 months, is equivalent to a 2-year Diploma Course, as prescribed by the NCTE.