Bengal B.Ed Colleges Move Calcutta High Court Over Admission Ban
Students hoping to join a B.Ed course in Bengal this session could see seats shrink if the barred colleges lose their case.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
About 57 private Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) colleges in West Bengal have moved the Calcutta High Court against the state government’s decision to stop them from admitting students, IANS reported on 9 November. The colleges say they were told they did not meet “prescribed eligibility criteria” but were never given specific reasons. An official said the petition was likely to be heard on Tuesday, 10 November.
Fewer Seats for Aspiring Teachers
The ban matters first to students who planned to join a two-year B.Ed course this session. Higher Education Minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay announced on 6 November that 393 private colleges were cleared to admit students for 2026-28, while 205 were barred until they upgrade their infrastructure. Students who had applied to a barred college will have to look at the cleared list.
The minister said the step is not a de-affiliation or a closure. Barred colleges can return once they meet the norms, he said.
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How the List Was Drawn Up
In August, admissions were allowed in 150 of 601 private self-financed B.Ed colleges. The other 451 were put on hold after show-cause notices over infrastructure and faculty. Of those, 442 submitted undertakings saying they meet the norms and nine did not respond, according to a PTI report. A reinspection report was submitted by 4 November, and the second round cleared 237 more colleges, taking the total to 393 with the 156 approved in the first round.
The same exercise hit other institutions. Admissions were suspended in 14 of 265 industrial training institutes, 38 of 134 pharmacy institutes and one of 74 polytechnics for inadequate basic facilities. Earlier IPB stories on state education decisions are on the Daily Updates page.
What the High Court May Decide
The colleges want the court to examine the state’s reasons and allow them to admit students this session. Whether the court grants interim relief, asks the state for a reply or lists the case for a later date is not yet known. The Hans India report gave no confirmed hearing outcome. The petitioners’ main complaint is the lack of a written explanation, and the state has so far pointed to its inspection reports.
Source: Based on reporting by The Hans India (IANS) and PTI via The Week.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
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