Supreme Court Seeks Response from Centre, UGC & NAAC on Transparency in Accreditation Process

 

Supreme Court Seeks Response from Centre, UGC & NAAC on Transparency in Accreditation Process

Petition raises concerns over fairness and credibility of NAAC's grading system

New Delhi, April 14:
The Supreme Court of India has issued notices to the Ministry of Education, the University Grants Commission (UGC), and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), seeking their response to a petition that demands measures to ensure transparency and impartiality in the grading process of higher education institutions.

A bench comprising Justice P S Narasimha and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued the notices while hearing a petition filed by the NGO Bistro Destino Foundation.

What is NAAC?

Established in 1994, the NAAC is an autonomous body under the UGC that assesses and accredits higher educational institutions in India. It evaluates colleges and universities on parameters such as curriculum, faculty, infrastructure, research, and financial health, ultimately assigning them a grade.

Court Questions NAAC’s Functioning
In its order dated April 9, the Supreme Court stated, "We want to delve deeper into the matter and understand how NAAC functions." The court emphasized the need to examine the accreditation system to ensure it upholds credibility and fairness.

Concerns Over Fairness and Transparency
The petition raises serious concerns about the current methodology adopted by NAAC for evaluating higher education institutions. It questions the transparency and impartiality of the process and refers to a CBI case registered on February 1 against NAAC officials in connection with corruption allegations. According to the petition, such incidents cast doubt on the effectiveness and integrity of the accreditation process.

Recent UGC Reforms

This development comes shortly after the UGC announced new rules to streamline the recognition and equivalence process for academic qualifications obtained from foreign institutions, aiming to strengthen the framework of higher education in India.

The case highlights growing concerns over quality assurance in higher education and may prompt significant reforms in how accreditation is carried out in India. The court's scrutiny into NAAC’s processes could lead to greater accountability and systemic transparency.