Madras HC restrains Centre from publishing 2025 NIRF ranking

MADURAI: Madras HC granted Thursday an interim stay restraining the Union ministry of education and National Board of Accreditation (NBA) from publishing National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking for 2025.

A division bench of Justice J Nisha Banu and Justice S Srimathy passed the interim order while hearing a PIL filed by C Chellamuthu of Dindigul district, who stated that in all the ranking parameters the data provided by institutions that got NIRF ranking was manipulated and completely false.

Chellamuthu stated that NBA would direct the institutions to upload data, such as student and staff strength, staff salaries, graduation index, placement details, and funds received for research and development, on its web portal. Based on the data, rankings are awarded without any further verification . However, in National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) Annual Quality Assurance Report (AQAR), the documents are audited and checked by expert committees sent by NAAC to the institutions.

The petitioner moved court asking that it direct NBA to publish NIRF ranking after verifying data submitted by institutions with data in govt records and disclose the calculation method. The judges sought a counter-affidavit from the authorities and adjourned the case to April 24.