Can't demand equivalency certificates for UGC-approved courses, says Kerala HC
Justice D K Singh was considering a petition by S Harisankar of Malappuram, challenging the decision of LBS Centre for Science and Technology — the agency responsible for conducting the State Eligibility Test (SET) for promotion to the post of higher secondary school teacher. Although the petitioner had passed the SET, the LBS Centre declined to issue his certificate of qualification, citing his failure to produce an equivalency certificate for his master's degree obtained from
IGNOU
.
LBS Centre counsel and govt pleader argued that, in view of the special rules framed under the Kerala Education Act, 1958, an equivalency certificate is mandatory. They also referred to the SET prospectus, which contains a similar clause.
However, the single bench observed that IGNOU is a central university of national importance established by the central govt to offer distance education and regular courses. It is recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and its courses are UGC-approved. HC held that no insistence on equivalency certificates can be made in respect of degrees obtained from national institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Science (IISc), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) or other institutions recognized by the UGC.
Accordingly, the court directed the LBS Centre to issue the SET qualification certificate for July 2021 to the petitioner.
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