In a significant move, the Supreme Court has issued notices to the Union education ministry, the University Grants Commission (UGC), and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), seeking a detailed response regarding the transparency and fairness of the NAAC’s grading system for higher education institutions.
The bench, comprising Justices P S Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi, responded to a plea filed by NGO Bistro Destino Foundation, which has highlighted concerns about the integrity of the current assessment procedures used by the NAAC. Established in 1994, NAAC is an autonomous entity under the UGC tasked with evaluating higher educational institutions across various parameters including curriculum, faculty, infrastructure, research, and financial health.
The petition points out significant discrepancies in the NAAC’s operation, citing a recent case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation against several NAAC officials involved in a corruption scandal, raising serious questions about the accreditation process’s efficacy.
“We wish to delve deeper into the matter and understand how the NAAC functions,” the bench stated, granting the liberty to submit additional documents that could aid in their investigation.
The plea urges the Supreme Court to implement a more transparent and fair grading system, ensuring that higher education institutions are assessed accurately and justly.
