THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L. NARASIMHA REDDY Writ Petition Nos.12514, 13459, 13936, 13937 and 14213 of 2009 COMMON ORDER: In this batch of writ petitions, challenge is made to the action of the respondents in not issuing hall tickets to the petitioners for the written test, proposed to be held on 28-06-2009. The 1st respondent, i.e. Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, issued notification dated 30-04-2009, from the internal candidates to fill 45 posts of Management Trainees (Technical). The qualification prescribed for the post is Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Engineering or Technology from a recognized University/Institute, in the disciplines of Ceramics, etc., with minimum of 55% marks (40% for SC/ST candidates). Candidates with three years course of M.C.A. were also permitted to apply. The petitioners have acquired Diploma in various branches and thereafter completed degrees in B.Tech., through correspondence course from Janardhan Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidyapeeth, Rajasthan (for short ‘the University’). Their grievance is that the respondents are not recognizing the courses offered by the said University. According to them, the University was established, with the permission of the University Grants Commission (UGC), and there was no justification for not recognizing the B.Tech. Degrees, issued by it. The respondents filed counter-affidavits. According to them, the Degree in Engineering, obtained through correspondence course, that too, at a time, when the University was not recognized; cannot be acted upon. It is stated that the degrees obtained by the petitioners are not approved by a Joint Committee, with the participation of UGC, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the Distance Education Council (DEC), established under the Indira Gandhi National Open University Act. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and learned Standing Counsel for respondents. The selection to the posts of Management Trainees (Technical) is restricted to the internal candidates. The qualification prescribed for the posts are, Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Engineering or Technology in various disciplines or M.C.A. Degree of three years course, from a recognized University/Institution. The petitioners claim to have obtained Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering. It is not in dispute that the degree is not on the basis of a regular study of engineering course. On the other hand, it is in the correspondence mode. There was any amount of uncertainty as to the recognition of degrees, conferred by the Deemed Universities, through correspondence course, particularly, when the degrees pertain to professional courses. The establishment of an engineering college needs approval of AICTE and any course, which is imparted through correspondence mode, is to be in the pattern, stipulated by the DEC. To avoid complications in the matter, the three agencies, viz., U.G.C., A.I.C.T.E., and D.E.C., have constituted a Joint Committee, which is vested with the power to recognize the degrees. It is only when the degrees are approved by the said Joint Committee, with the individual signatures, that a course can be recognized as equivalent to any degree, which is conferred after regular study. Admittedly, the degrees conferred upon the petitioners are not recognized or approved by the Joint Committee. This Court has taken the view in a batch of writ petitions, that unless a degree, particularly, technically in nature, is not recognized by a Joint Committee, the holders thereof cannot claim the benefit under it. Hence, the writ petitions are dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. _______________________ L. NARASIMHA REDDY, J. Dt.28-09-2010 KO