Lok Sabha Question No. 1403 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-05
Subject: Engineering Degrees from Correspondence
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: MOHANBHAI KALYANJIBHAI KUNDARIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1403 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.03.2018

## Engineering Degrees from Correspondence

## 1403. SHRI KUNDARIYA MOHAN BHAI KALYANJI BHAI:

## Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  a  recent  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  (SC) cancelling  engineering  degrees  obtained  by  students  via  correspondence  courses  offered  by
- certain universities; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the said move would have an adverse impact on the professional career of thousands of students of the countries inlcuding in Saurashtra Gujarat and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the responses of the Government thereto and steps being taken to assist such students?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a)  &  (b):  Yes, Madam.  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  on  Special  Leave  Petition  (C)  Nos.  1980719808/2012 has directed that the degrees in engineering awarded to students who were enrolled during  the  academic  years  2001-2005  with  the  4-listed  Deemed  to  be  Universities  shall  stand suspended till they pass tests to be conducted under the joint supervision of AICTE - UGC in the manner indicated thereafter.  Hon'ble  Supreme Courst  also  directed  AICTE  to  devise  within  one month  from  the  date  of  the  judgment,  modalities  to  conduct  the  appropriate  test/tests  both  in written  examination  as  well  as  in  practical(s)  for  the  concerned  students  enrolled  during  the academic sessions 2001-2005 covering all the concerned subjects in the 4-listed deemed to be Universities.  The  Degree(s)  awarded  to  students  who  were  enrolled  in  these  Deemed  to  be Universities  after  the  academic  sessions  2001-2005  shall  stand  recalled  and  be  treated  as cancelled.  Those  students  who  are  not  opting  for  tests  will  get  refund  of  tuition  fees  etc.  from concerned universities as per the judgment. AICTE in pursuance of the above order constituted a committee to suggest action plan for the implementation of Supreme Court decision and issued Public  Notice  for  the  online  registration  of  students  who  were  affected  by  this  decision  for appearing in the tests to be conducted by AICTE-UGC likely to be held in the month of May/ June, 2018. The syllabus/  format  of  the  tests  as  prepared  by  the  committee  for  different  courses  has been  uploaded  on  AICTE  Web  Portal.  All  NIT  Directors  have  been  requested  to  extend  their cooperation for providing infrastructure and expertise for conducting tests in their premises.

(c) & (d) : Hon'ble Supreme Court in its judgment has given two chances to students who were enrolled during the academic years 2001-2005 for appearing in the tests and if they clear the tests, all the advantages or benefits shall be restored to the concerned students. However, no relief has been  given  to  students  who  were  enrolled  thereafter.  AICTE  on  its  part  is  implementing  the decision of Hon'ble Supreme Court in letter and spirit.

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