- (1.) Having regard to the commonality of the legal issues involved in these writ petitions, the same have been heard together and shall stand disposed of by this common judgment and order.
(2.) In West Bengal, there are two kinds of colleges imparting lessons for acquisition of training qualifications Government/Government-aided colleges and privately financed colleges (hereafter the said colleges, whenever referred to jointly). All such colleges have been recognized by the National Council for Teacher Education (hereafter the NCTE), upon their obtainment of affiliation from the relevant universities and 'no objection' from the State Government.
(3.) The said colleges, till such time the impugned order was issued, were conducting the process of admission of students in accordance with the terms and conditions of affiliation prescribed by the relevant affiliating universities. The impugned order dated 16th March, 2015, however, brought about significant changes in the admission process. It would be useful to quote below the entirety of such order:- "In partial modification of this Department's order no. 207 Edn (CS)/10M-20/15 dated 03.03.2015 regarding admission into B.Ed./B.P.Ed./M.Ed./M.P.Ed. colleges/ courses for the academic year 2015-2016. I am directed by the order of the Governor to say that the counselling for admission to self-financed B.Ed./B.P.Ed./M.Ed./M.P.Ed. colleges/courses for the academic year 2015-2016 will be done centrally by the affiliating University and whether the same will be through on-line or off-line mode will be decided by the respective affiliating University. I am further directed to reiterate that the Government and Governmentaided colleges and State aided Universities offering B.Ed./B.P.Ed./M.Ed./M.P.Ed. courses will conduct on-line admission process on standalone basis.";