In a significant development concerning higher education quality in India, the Supreme Court has issued a notice in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a comprehensive review of the grading and accreditation processes conducted by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) over the last five years. The PIL, filed by the NGO Bistro Destino Foundation, raises serious questions about the transparency and credibility of NAAC’s evaluation system and calls for systemic reforms.
Background of the Case
On April 9, 2025, a two-judge bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Joymalya Bagchi admitted the PIL and issued notices to the relevant authorities, including NAAC. The petition highlights glaring discrepancies and alleged corruption in the accreditation process of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in India, citing an audit conducted by the General Auditing Group (GAG) in March 2023.
The plea seeks to expose and rectify what it terms as a “flawed and compromised” accreditation process, which allegedly facilitated institutions receiving unjustifiably high grades through malpractices and manipulation of data.
NAAC Accreditation Process: A Snapshot
The NAAC accreditation process is designed to assess the quality of education, institutional governance, and infrastructure in universities and colleges. The evaluation comprises several stages:
- AQAR (Annual Quality Assurance Report): Submitted annually by institutions, this report includes key institutional data.
- IIQA (Institutional Information for Quality Assessment): A preliminary document outlining basic institutional eligibility.
- SSR (Self-Study Report): A detailed document that includes the institution’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges.
- DVV (Data Validation and Verification): An external agency verifies institutional data using ICT tools.
- Peer Team Visit: A panel of academic experts visits the institution and prepares a final report.
The final score is a combination of 70% from DVV and 30% from the peer review process, after which the Executive Council of NAAC awards the final accreditation grade.
Allegations Raised in the Petition
The PIL levels several serious allegations against NAAC, including:
- Manipulation and Corruption: It references the resignation of former NAAC Chairman Bhushan Patwardhan in March 2023. Patwardhan had publicly expressed his concerns about a “green corridor” of corruption in the accreditation process, which included manipulation of DVV and PTV procedures.
- CBI Probe and FIR Against NAAC Officials: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered an FIR on February 1, 2025 (FIR No. RC2182025A0002), alleging bribery involving NAAC officials and educational institutions. Reportedly, assessors received cash, gold, laptops, and mobile phones in exchange for higher grades.
- Removal of 900 Assessors: In response to these allegations, NAAC reportedly removed over 900 assessors without re-evaluating the institutions assessed by them. This has raised concerns about the fairness of the accreditation status granted to those institutions.
- Arbitrary Reassessment and Lack of Hearing: The petition also alleges that NAAC conducted a second DVV process for several institutions and reduced their scores arbitrarily without providing a fair opportunity to be heard — a move that could have long-term consequences for affected institutions.
Reliefs Sought by the Petitioner
The PIL seeks the following reliefs from the Supreme Court:
- Establishment of a Fair and Transparent Accreditation Framework: The petitioner has asked the Court to direct NAAC or a Court-appointed committee to institute reforms that ensure transparency in the accreditation process.
- Review of Past Assessments: It seeks a thorough review and verification of NAAC gradings awarded over the last five years.
- Reassessment of Institutions Affected by Removed Assessors: The petitioner demands reassessment of all HEIs whose evaluations were carried out by the assessors recently removed for alleged malpractice.
- Quashing of Arbitrary Grades: The plea seeks to annul grades that were reduced or granted without due process.
- Constitution of an Oversight Committee: The petitioner urges the formation of an independent committee to monitor and scrutinize future assessment procedures.
Implications of the Supreme Court’s Intervention
If the Supreme Court decides to order a review or reassessment of NAAC accreditations, it could trigger wide-ranging changes across India’s higher education landscape. For one, institutions that were wrongfully graded could face downgrades, affecting their funding, student admissions, and reputation. Conversely, colleges that were unfairly penalized may finally receive appropriate recognition.
This case also underscores the pressing need for reform within India’s education accreditation system. With the UGC’s emphasis on autonomy and international rankings, a compromised NAAC system could severely affect India’s higher education credibility on the global stage.
Why This Case Matters
Accreditation is the backbone of higher education governance and accountability. Institutions rely on NAAC gradings for UGC funding, autonomy, international collaborations, and even student enrolments. If these assessments are tainted by corruption or procedural flaws, the entire higher education ecosystem is jeopardized.
Moreover, this PIL comes at a time when India is pushing forward with its National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes transparency, quality enhancement, and global benchmarking. A compromised NAAC undermines these goals.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court’s decision to entertain this PIL sends a strong message about the importance of integrity in public institutions. As the case unfolds, it is likely to bring much-needed scrutiny to NAAC and potentially lead to sweeping reforms in how educational institutions in India are assessed and accredited.
The education community, policymakers, and students across the country will be watching closely, as the credibility of the entire higher education evaluation system hangs in the balance.
