Virender Kumar and Ors v. State of Haryana and Others

LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-1 -

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo o o thReservedoono:oo24 oApril,o2025o thoDateoofoPronouncement:ooo12 oMay,o2025o

1.o LPAoNo.o128oofo2023o(O&M)o o VirenderoKumaroandootherso o o o …oAppellantso Versuso StateoofoHaryanaoandootherso o o o …oRespondentsooo o

2.o LPAoNo.o146oofo2023o(O&M)o o ManojoKumaroandoothersoo o o o …oAppellantso Versuso StateoofoHaryanaoandootherso o o o …oRespondentsooo o

3.o LPAoNo.o215oofo2023o(O&M)o o DeenbandhuoChhotuoRamoUniversityoofoScienceoo andoTechnology,oMurthaloo o o o …oAppellanto Versuso ArunoKumaroandootherso o o o o …Respondentsooo o

3.o LPAoNo.o216oofo2023o(O&M)o o DeenbandhuoChhotuoRamoUniversityoofoScienceoo andoTechnology,oMurthaloo o o o …oAppellanto Versuso SanjeevoTanweroandootherso o o o …Respondentsooo o

4.o LPAoNo.o217oofo2023o(O&M)o o DeenbandhuoChhotuoRamoUniversityoofoScienceoo o o …oAppellantoandoTechnology,oMurthaloo o Versuso Sunitaoandootherso o o o o o …Respondentsooo o

5.o LPAoNo.o223oofo2023o(O&M)o o DeenbandhuoChhotuoRamoUniversityoofoScienceoo andoTechnology,oMurthaloo o o o …oAppellanto Versuso RahuloKaironoandootherso o o o o …Respondentsooo o o o o LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-2 -

6.o LPAoNo.o224oofo2023o(O&M)o o DeenbandhuoChhotuoRamoUniversityoofoScienceoo andoTechnology,oMurthaloo o o o …oAppellanto Versuso NitinoSainioandootherso o o o o …Respondentsooo o

8.o LPAoNo.o225oofo2023o(O&M)o o DeenbandhuoChhotuoRamoUniversityoofoScienceoo andoTechnology,oMurthaloo o o o …oAppellanto Versuso ManoharoLaloRajpaloandoothersoo o o …Respondentsooo o LPAoNo.o226oofo2023o(O&M)o9.o o DeenbandhuoChhotuoRamoUniversityoofoScienceoo andoTechnology,oMurthaloo o o o …oAppellanto Versuso BajrangoLaloandootherso o o o o …Respondentsooo o

10.o LPAoNo.o228oofo2023o(O&M)o o DeenbandhuoChhotuoRamoUniversityoofoScienceoo andoTechnology,oMurthaloo o o o …oAppellanto Versuso MohanoLaloandootherso o o o o …Respondentsooo o

11.o LPAoNo.o229oofo2023o(O&M)o o DeenbandhuoChhotuoRamoUniversityoofoScienceoo andoTechnology,oMurthaloo o o o …oAppellanto Versuso GirishoKumaroandoothersoo o o o …Respondentsooo o CORAM:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSANJEEVoPRAKASHoSHARMAoo o ooooooooHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoH.oS.oGREWALo o Presento Mr.oD.S.oPatwalia,oSenioroAdvocate,oassistedobyo Mr.oGauravoRana,oAdvocate,oo forotheoappellant(s)oinoLPA-146-2023.o o Mr.oArjunoPartapoAtmaoRam,oAdvocate,o forotheoappellant(s)oinoLPA-128-2023.o o Mr.oJagbiroSingh,oAdvocateoforotheoappellant(s)oo inoLPAs-215otoo217,o223otoo226,o228oando229oofo2023oandoo fororespondentoNo.4oinoLPAs-128oando146oofo2023.o LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-3 -

Mr.oPankajoMiddha,oAdditionaloAdvocateoGeneral,oHaryana.o o Mr.oGurminderoSingh,oSenioroAdvocate,oassistedobyo Mr.oJatinderoSinghoGill,oAdvocate,o fororespondentoNo.5oinoLPA-146-2023.o o Mr.oS.K.oGargoNarwana,oSenioroAdvocate,oassistedobyo Mr.oVishaloGargoNarwana,oAdvocateo Mr.oNitinoSachdeva,oAdvocate,oandoo Ms.oNancyoAntwal,oAdvocateo fororespondentsoNo.9otoo13oinoLPA-128-2023.o o Ms.oPrernaoMalhotra,oAdvocateoforo Mr.oPrateekoMahajan,oAdvocate,oo fororespondentoNo.9oinoLPA-216-2023.o o Mr.oInderoPaloSingh,oAdvocateoforoo Mr.oNitinoKaushal,oAdvocate,oforotheorespondents-AICTE.o o Mr.oR.P.oDangi,oAdvocateoandoo Mr.oSagaroDangi,oAdvocateoo fororespondentsoNo.o9otoo13oinoLPA-128-2023,o fororespondentsoNo.o6otoo9oinoLPA-146-2023,o fororespondentsoNo.o5otoo12oinoLPA-215-2023,o fororespondentsoNo.o6otoo8oinoLPA-217-2023,o fororespondentsoNo.o10otoo19oinoLPA-223-2023,oo fororespondentsoNo.o12otoo19oinoLPA-224-2023,o fororespondentsoNo.o8otoo12oinoLPA-225-2023,o fororespondentsoNo.o6otoo13oinoLPA-226-2023oandoo fororespondentsoNo.o6otoo9oinoLPA-228-2023.o fororespondentsoNo.o4otoo8oinoLPA-229-2023.o o Mr.oS.P.oLather,oAdvocateoandoo Mr.oShubhamoSaroha,oAdvocate,ofororespondentoNo.8oinoLPA-128-2023oandofororespondentsoNo.2oando3oinoLPA-225-2023.o o Mr.oArjunoSheoran,oAdvocateoandoo Mr.oTejasvioSheokand,oAdvocate,oo fororespondentoNo.1oinoLPA-217-2023.o o SANJEEVoPRAKASHoSHARMA,oJ.oo oo o Thisoorderowillodisposeoofoelevenoappealsoi.e.oLPAoNos.o128,o 146,o215,o216,o217,o223,o224,o225,o226,o228oando229oofo2023,oasocommono questionsoofolawoandofactsoareoinvolvedotherein.oFactsoofotheseocasesoareo LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-4 -

beingonoticedofromoLPAoNo.o128oofo2023opreferredobyoappellantsoVirendero Kumaroandoothers.o

2.o o Deeno Bandhuo Chhotuo Ramo Universityo ofo Scienceo ando Technology,o Murthal,o Districto Sonipato (foro short,o 'theo University')o iso ino appealo alongwitho theo affectedo candidates,o whoo haveo filedo theiro separateo appeals,oagainstotheojudgmentodatedo21.12.2022opassedobyolearnedoSingleo JudgeoinoCWPoNo.o15209oofo2021owherebyotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeohaso proceededotooholdotheocourseoconductedobyotheoUniversityotoobeoinvalidoando theoB.TechoDegreeoawardedotootheoappellantsohasoalsoobeenoheldotoobeoinvalido foroconsiderationoofopromotionoandotheoorderopassedobyotheodepartmentodatedo

18.01.2021o foro consideringo theo candidatureo ofo theo appellants,o whoo wereo respondentonos.o5otoo8obeforeotheolearnedoSingleoJudge,owasoquashed.oo

3.o o Briefofacts,owhichoneedotoobeonoticedoareothatopetitionsowereo filedobyotheowritopetitionersowhoowereodegreeoholdersohavingoobtainedotheo degreeoasowholeotimeostudentsoinoB.Techo(Civil).oAsoperoRuleo6oofotheoPunjabo ServiceoofoEngineersoClass-II,oPWDo(BuildingoandoRoadsoBranch),oRules,o 1965o(hereinafterotoobeoreferredoaso'1965oRules'),oaojunioroengineeromayobeo appointedotootheohigheropostoofoSuboDivisionaloEngineero(SDE)obyopromotiono ifoheopossessesodegreeoqualificationoprescribedoinoAppendixo'B'oofotheo1965o Rulesoando11%oquotaoisoreservedoforosuchojunioroengineers.oo

4.o o TheoappellantsowereoappointedoasoJunioroEngineersoinitiallyoasoo Diplomao holders.o Whileo ino service,o theyo soughto promotiono fromo theiro employerotoojoinotheoB.Techo(CiviloEngineering)odegreeocourseowhichowaso introducedobyotheoappellant-UniversityofromotheoAcademicoSessiono2011obyo LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-5 -

theonameoofoweekendoprogrammeoforoworkingoprofessionals.oTheyoallojoinedo theo courseo aftero theo permissiono waso grantedo byo theo department.o Theo appellant-Universityo ino 2013o changedo theo nomenclatureo fromo weekendo programmeotoopartotimeoB.Techocourse.oAodecisionowasoalsootakenotootakeoex-posto factoo approvalo fromo theo Allo Indiao Councilo foro Technicalo Educationo (AICTE).oBeforeojoiningotheocourse,otheoappellantsowereorequiredotooclearotheo entranceotestoconductedobyotheoappellant-Universityowhichotheyoalloqualified.o ItoisostatedothatoB.Techoweekendocourseowouldobeoheldotwoodaysoinoaoweeko andoonocountotheretootheoB.Techocourseoiso ofo4oyearsoinsteadoofo3oyearso regularocourse.oTheocourseocontentoisotheosame.oTheofacultyomembersoareotheo sameowhooareoteachingobothotheoB.Techocoursesoregularoasowelloasotheoparto timeo(earlieroweekendocourse).oTheodegreeocoursesoimpartedoaftero4oyearso haveo beeno treatedo aso dulyo recognizedo byo theo Stateo Governmento foro theo purposeoofoconsideringosuchojunioroengineersoforopromotionotootheopostoofo SDE.oo

5.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo appellantso submitso thato theo learnedo SingleoJudgeohasofailedotootakeonoticeoofovariousodocumentsoplacedobeforeo theoCourtowithorespectotoorecognitionoofotheocourseobyotheoAICTE.oHeohaso referredotootheowrittenostatementofiledobyorespondentonos.o5otoo8o(inotheowrito petition)oandotootheowrittenostatementoofotheoUniversity.oTheoUniversityohaso statedoinoitsoreplyothatoinotheoyearo2009,oitostartedoweekendoprogrammesoaftero ndapprovalobyoAcademicoCounciloofotheoUniversityoinoitso2 oMeetingoheldoono

06.10.2009ounderoItemoNo.o10,owithomembershiporepresentingotheoTechnicalo EducationoDepartmentoofotheoStateoGovernment.oTheodecisionotoostartotheo LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-6 -

B.Techo weekendo programmeo ofo Civilo Engineeringo waso approvedo byo theo thExecutiveo Councilo ofo theo appellant-Universityo ino itso 9 o Meetingo heldoono

04.02.2010ounderoItemoNo.o11.oTheominutesoofotheomeetingoofotheoExecutiveo Councilowasoalsooattached.oo

6.o o ItohasobeenoascertainedothatotheoUniversityoisoaoStateoUniversityo establishedobyoanoActoofotheoHaryanaoStateoAssemblyoandoisorecognizedobyo theo UGCo undero Sectiono 2(F)o ando 12(B)o ofo theo UGCo Act,o 1956.o Theo appellant-UniversityoisoempoweredotooawardodegreeounderoSectiono22oofotheo thUGCoAct,o1956.oItoisofurtherostatedothatoinotheo18 oMeetingoofotheoExecutiveo Counciloofotheoappellant-Universityoheldoono29.03.2013,otheonomenclatureoofo weekendoprogrammeowasochangedotoopart-timeoprogramme.oo

7.o o Ito haso beeno furthero statedo thato theo Haryanao Stateo Boardo ofo TechnicaloEducationoinoitsomeetingoono10.05.2011oheldotheocourseorunobyotheo appellant-UniversityoasovalidopresumingotheoUniversityofulfillsotheoprescribedo normsolaidobyotheoAICTE.oTheoStateoUniversityowasodulyorecognizedoando approvedo byo theo Jointo Committeeo ofo UGC-DEC-AICTEo ando ifo ito offerso programmesoinoitsoownocampusoinoaoregularomodeo(notoinodistanceomode)obuto inoaoweekendomodeoandopart-timeomodeoinoeveningoclassesoandoonoholidays,o itocannotobeosaidothatotheosameoisoaodistanceomode.oFurtheroapprovaloofotheo individualocourseowasonotorequiredotoobeoobtainedofromotheoAICTE.oo

8.o o Learnedocounseloforotheoappellantsohasoinvitedoouroattentionotoo theo lettero datedo 11.01.2017o issuedo byo theo Registraro ofo theo appellant-UniversityowhereinotheoRegistrarohasoascertainedothatotheopart-timeo(erstwhileo weekendoprogramme)oinoB.Techo(CiviloEngineering)oisodulyoapprovedobyotheo LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-7 -

AcademicoCounciloofotheoappellant-Universityoandoitoisoempoweredotooawardo degreesounderoSectiono22oofotheoUGCoAct.oByoanotheroletterotheoDirectorohaso alsooinformedothatotheoappellant-UniversityoisoanoAICTEoapprovedoinstitutiono andowasoinotheoapprovedolistoofotheoAICTEoduringotheoacademicoyearsowheno theo concernedo candidateso acquiredo theo B.o Techo (Civilo Engineering)o qualification.oo

9.o o Learnedocounselohasoalsooinvitedoouroattentionotootheoletterodatedo

19.02.2018owherebyotheoAICTEohasoaccordedoapprovalotooB.Techopart-timeo courseo too provideo facilityo foro pursuingo technicalo educationo too theo professionalsohavingoprofessionaloexperienceoandothatotheopart-timeocourseso areotreatedoatoparowithoregularocourses.oItowasoalsoostatedothatotheoappellant-UniversityocanoconductotechnicalocoursesowithoutotheoAICTEoapprovalobeingo aoUniversity.ooTheoDean,oAcademicoAffairsoofotheoappellant-Universityoalsoo issuedo ao lettero ono 28.07.2021oholdingothato theo appellantso whoo haveo beeno awardedoB.Techoengineeringodegreesothroughoweekend/opart-timeocoursesoino variousoengineeringodisciplinesoareoequivalentotooregularocoursesoinoviewoofo theoclarificationogivenobyotheoAICTE,oNewoDelhioandovalidofororecruitmento ando promotion.o Ito wouldo beo appositeo too quoteo theo notificationo datedo

28.07.2021oissuedobyotheoappellant-University,owhichoisoasounder:-o "Itoisoherebyonotifiedothatotheoweekend/opart-timeodegreeo (B.Tech./M.Tech.)oinovariousoEngineeringodisciplinesoawardedo byo Deenbandhuo Chhotuo Ramo Universityo ofo Scienceo ando Technology,o Murthalo (ao Stateo Governmento University)o areo equivalentotootheoregularoUG/PGoEngineeringodegreesoinoviewo ofo clarificationo giveno byo AICTE,o Newo Delhio ando valido foro recruitmentoandopromotion.oThisonotificationoisoherebyoissuedoino LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-8 -

accordanceo witho theo Directoro General,o Technicalo Educationo Department,o Governmento ofo Haryanao video Memoo No.o EC/Colleges/2021/38-44odatedo 16.07.2021ow.r.t.oconfirmationo ofominutesoofotheomeetingoofoEquivalencyoCommitteeoheldoundero theo Chairmanshipo ofo Director,o Technicalo Educationo Department,oGovernmentoofoHaryana,oPanchkula."o o Theosaidonotificationowasobasedoonotheoconfirmationoofotheominutesoofotheo meetingoofotheoEquivalenceoCommitteeounderotheoChairmanshipoofoDirector,o Technicalo Education.o Theo confirmationo minuteso ofo theo meetingo datedo

16.07.2021o wereo alsoo placedo ono record.o Theo Generalo Administrationo Departmento(GeneraloServices-1oBranch)oinoitsomeetingoheldoono29.12.2021o tookoaodecisionoinotheofollowingoterms:-o "4.o TheomatterohasobeenodulyoconsideredobyotheoGovernmento andoitohasobeenodecidedothatoalloregularoUG/PGoEngineeringo degreeso aso wello aso theo weekend/o part-timeo degreeso (B.Tech/M.Tech)o ino variouso Engineeringo disciplineso awardedo byo Deenbandhuo Chhotuo Ramo Universityo ofo Scienceo ando Technologyo(DCRUST),oMurthal,oSonepat,oHaraynaoareotoobeo treatedo aso equivalento foro theo purposeo ofo appointmentso ando promotions."o ThisoCourtoalsoonoticesothatotheoStateoPublicoInformationoono17.03.2015ogaveo followingoinformationounderotheoRTIoAct:-oo Pointo Informationo No.o

1.o Theoweek-endocourseowasostartedoafterodulyoapprovedo byo theo Academico Councilo ofo theo Universityo witho membershipo representingo theo Technicalo Educationo Departmento ofo theo State.o Theo programmeo waso conductedothroughoweekendoclasses,obutowasochangedo toopart-timeoprogrammeoasoitodidonotosuitotheoAICTEo format.oItowasonotoapprovedobyoAICTEoandohasosinceo LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-9 -

beenodiscontinued.o 2&4o Ao photocopyo ofo prospectuso (2012-13)o ofo Week-endo programmeoisoattachedoherewith.o

3.o TheoWeek-endoprogrammeowasonotoapprovedobyoAICTEo thougho approvedo byo theo Academico Councilo botho foro starto ofo theo programmeo aso week-endo programmeo aso welloasoitsoredesignationoasoPart-timeoprogramme,oaso desiredobyoAICTE.o

5.o TheoUniversityoisoempoweredotooawardodegreesoundero Sectiono 22o ofo theo UGCo Act,o 1956o ando iso approvedo undero sectiono 12(B)o ofo theo saido Act.o B.Tech.o programmeso (regular)o haveo beeno approvedo byo theo AICTEo ando theo curricularo contendo ofo botho theo programmesoisotheosame.o o

10.o o Learnedocounseloforotheoappellantsofurtherosubmitsothatoapprovalo fromotheoAICTEowasonotorequiredotoobeotakenoonceotheoAICTEoapprovedotheo Universityoasoaotechnicalouniversity.oAllotheocoursesowhetheropart-timeooro fulltime,obeingorunobyotheoUniversityoatoitsoownocampus,owouldohaveotoobeo treatedoasoregularocoursesoando4oyearsopart-timeoB.Techowhichotheoappellantso haveoundergone,ohasotoobeoconsideredoasosufficientocourse,owhichostandsodulyo recognizedo byo theo Stateo authoritieso foro theo purposeo ofo promotion.o Theo learnedo Singleo Judgeo haso erredo ino noto allowingo theo appellantso too beo consideredoforopromotionoandotreatedothemoasoineligible.oo

11.o o Learnedocounseloforotheoappellantsofurtherosubmitsothatononeoofo theo letterso issuedo byo theo AICTEo clarifiedo itso stando oro theo letterso ofo theo Universityo reiteratingo dueo recognitiono too theo part-timeo courseo wereo challengedobyotheorespondents.o

12.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo appellantso haso reliedo ono theo ordero passedobyotheoSupremeoCourtorecentlyoinoWritoPetitiono(C)oNo.o382oofo2018o Mukulo Kumaro Sharmao ando otherso vso Allo Indiao Councilo foro Technicalo LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-10 -

Educationo ando otherso datedo 30.07.2018o ando theo ordero passedo ino Writo Petitiono(C)oNo.o1341oofo2019oMd.oNaseenoBaigoandoothersovsoAlloIndiao Councilo foro Technicalo Educationo ando otherso datedo 18.09.2020.o Heo alsoo reliedoonotheojudgmentopassedoinoBharathidasamoUniversityoandoanotherovso All-IndiaoCounciloforoTechnicaloEducationoandootherso2001o(8)oSCCo676o andoDevenderoBhaskaroandoothersovsoStateoofoHaryanaoandoothersoo2022o

(1)oSCTo51.oo

13.o o Learnedocounseloforotheoappellantsohasoalsooreliedoonotheoreplyo filedobyotheoAICTEotoosubmitothatotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeohasofailedotootakeo noteoofotheosaidosubmissionsoandotheostandoofotheoAICTE.oHeohasofurthero submittedothatosoofaroasotheoAICTEoisoconcerned,oasoperotheoAlloIndiaoCouncilo foroTechnicaloEducationoAct,o1987o(foroshort,o'theoAICTEoAct'),oaouniversityo haso beeno distinguishedo fromo ao technicalo institute.o Heo haso invitedo ouro attentionotooSectiono2o(h)oofotheoAICTEoActotoosubmitothatotheoprovisionso relatingotooindependentorecognitionoofoaotechnicaloinstitutionowouldonotoapplyo too ao universityo whoo wouldo beo entitledo ono itso owno too awardo degreeso ofo differentoformats.oo

14.o o LearnedocounseloforotheoUniversityoadoptsotheoargumentsoraisedo byolearnedocounseloforotheoappellants.oo

15.o o Mr.o S.o K.o Garg,o learnedo senioro counselo appearingo foro theo performaorespondentono.o9otoo13,owhooareosimilarlyosituatedoasotheoappellants,o submitsothatotheoappellantsohadojoinedoino2011oandohaveocompletedotheiro4o yearsocourseowhichohasoalsoobeenorecordedoinotheiroserviceorolls.oOnceotheo Stateo Governmento recognizeso theo saido courseo ando iso sufficiento foro theo LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-11 -

purposeoofopromotion,othereoisonoooccasionoforotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeotoo denyotheobenefitoasotheoAICTEohasoalsoonotoobjectedotootheoawardoofotheo degreesotootheoappellants.oTheolearnedoSingleoJudgeohasoerredoinoequatingotheo sameotootheodistanceoeducationocoursesowhichoareocompletelyodifferentofromo theopart-timeocourses.oo

16.o o LearnedocounseloappearingoforotheoAICTEosubmitsothatoinitiallyo theoUniversityohadonotosoughtoapprovaloforotheocourseoandohadorequestedoitotoo giveoapprovalotootheocourses.oTheoAICTEohadonototakenoanyodecisionoonotheo same,o however,o heo confirmso too theo issuanceo ofo lettero datedo 03.10.2017o whereinoitohasobeenointimatedotootheoEngineer-in-Chief,oPWDo(B&RoBranch)o ofo Deeno Bandhuo Chhotuo Ramo Universityo ofo Scienceo ando Technologyo aso approvedo instituteo ofo AICTE.o Heo alsoo submitso thato theo lettero specificallyo mentionedothatotheoinstitutionowasoinotheoapprovedolistoofoAICTEoduringotheo academicoyearsoduringowhichoRavinderoKumaroKadianooneoofotheoappellantso hereinoacquiredoqualificationoofoB.Techo(CiviloEngineering).oo

17.o o LearnedocounseloforotheoAICTEohasoreadooverotheobrieforeplyo filedobyotheoAICTEotootheowritopetitionotoosubmitothatotheoprivateouniversityo establishedobyotheoStateoLegislationodoesonotorequireoprioroapprovalofromo AICTEo forostartingofaculty/o coursesoino engineeringoprogramme.o Theyo areo requiredotoocomplyowithotheonormsoandostandardsoprescribedobyotheoAICTEo fromotimeotootime.oDocumentodatedo16.03.2017owhereinoinformationoundero theoRTIoAct,o2005ohasobeenoprovided,owhichoreflectsoasounder:-o Questiono PIO'soofo Replyo No./oPointo Bureau/oCello No.oo 1o&o2o Sh.o M.o1)o Ito iso too informo that,o centrallyo LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-12 -

Sundareasan,o funded,o Centralo University/o IITs/o Assistanto NITs/o IISCs/o NITTRso etc.o doo noto Directoro &o PIO,ocomeo undero theo purviewo ofo AICTE.o ApprovaloBureauoYouo mayo obtaino theo informationo directlyo fromo theo concernedo Universities/oinstitutionsoasotheyoareo alsoopublicoauthorities.oo 2)oItoisotooinformoyouothatouniversityo doeso noto requireo prioro approvalo ofo AICTEotoocommenceoaonewocourseooro programmeso ino technicalo education,o however,ouniversitiesohaveoobligationo orodutyotooconformotootheostandards;o ando normso laido Institutes/o Polytechnicso ando Parto Time/o Fullo Timeo &o courseso runo byo them,o iso alreadyo availableo ato publico domaino ando mayo beo assessedo ato Council'so websiteo ato theo linko "www.aicte-india.org/select-Statistics,o Select-Approvedo Institution,o Select-Year,o Select-State,o Select-Programme,o Select-Level,o Select-Course,o Select-Institute,oSelect-CourseoDetails.o

18.o o Perocontra,oMr.oGurminderoSingh,olearnedoseniorocounseloforo respondentono.5oinoLPAoNo.o146oofo2023osubmitsothatotheoissueoisoonlyowitho regardotootheocourseoofotheoyearo2011-12oandonotoofotheosubsequentocourses.o Heosubmitsothatowhenotheocourseoofotheoyearo2011-12owasostarted,onooprioro approvalowasotakenofromotheoAICTE.oOno29.03.2013otheoweekendocourseo waso convertedo intoo ao part-timeo courseo ando theo Universityo itselfo heldo ao meetingowhereoitodecidedotooseekoprioroapprovalofromotheoAICTE,owhichowaso notogranted.oTherefore,otheostudentsowhoocompletedo4oyearoweekendocourse,o lateroonoconvertedotoopart-timeocourse,ocannotobeosaidotoohaveoacquiredoao validodegree.oHeosupportsotheojudgmentopassedobyotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeo andosubmitsothatoasoperotheoAICTEoAct,otheoAICTEoaloneoisotheoauthorityotoo grantorecognitionoofocoursesoandonormsohaveotoobeoinoaccordanceowithotheo LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-13 -

ruleso framedo byo theo AICTE.o Heo furthero submitso thato soo faro aso theo writo petitionersoareoconcerned,otheyoareoholdingoaoregularodegree.oOnceothereoisoao regularodegreeobeingograntedobyotheosameoUniversity,otheodegreeoawardedotoo theoappellantsocannotobeosaidotoobeoequalotootheodegreeograntedotootheowrito petitioners.oo

19.o o Itoisofurtherosubmittedobyolearnedocounselofororespondentono.o5o thatoifotheoUniversityoitselfowouldohaveorecognizedoitoasoaoequivalentodegree,o thereowasonooreasonoforoconvertingotheoprogramme/ocourseofromoweekendotoo part-timeo programme.o Wheno theo ex-posto factoo approvalo waso sought,o theo matterowasoreferredotootheoRegionaloOfficeroofoAICTEoforoapproval.oTheo Universityowasoinformedothatothereoisonooprovisionoforograntoofoex-postofactoo approvalotoopart-timeocoursesoandotheosameomayobeoappliedoonlineoforotheo nextoAYo2014-15.oo

20.o o Learnedo counselo haso invitedo ouro attentiono too Annexureo P-2o enclosedoalongwithotheowritopetition.oHeohasoalsooinvitedoouroattentionotootheo lettero ofo informationo datedo 22.12.2014,o receivedo undero RTIo Act,o whicho reflectsothatoUG/PGoDegree/DiplomaoinoEngineeringoTechnologyoobtainedo throughodistanceomodeoisovalidoforoinitialoappointmentoandopromotionobutotheo B.Techo(CiviloEngineering)o4oyearsoprogrammeoobtainedothroughoweekendo course/o part-timeo iso noto acceptableo aso pero Chiefo Secretaryo lettero datedo

21.05.2009.o He,o therefore,o submitso thato theo courseo cannoto beo treatedo aso sufficientoforotheopurposeoofopromotion.oo

21.o o Weo haveo consideredo theo submissionso ando documentso whicho haveobeenoplacedoonorecord.oo LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-14 -

22.o o TheoAlloIndiaoCounciloforoTechnicaloEducationoAct,o1987owaso passedobyotheoHouseoofoParliamentotooprovideoforotheoestablishmentoofoanoAllo IndiaoCounciloforoTechnicaloEducationowithoaoviewotootheoproperoplanningo andocoordinateodevelopmentoofotheotechnicaloeducationosystemothroughouto theocountry,otheopromotionoofoqualitativeoimprovementsoofosuchoeducationoino relationo too plannedo quantitativeo growtho ando theo regulationo ando propero maintenanceoofonormsoandostandardsoinotheotechnicaloeducationosystemoando foromattersoconnectedotherewith.oTheoActocameointooforceofromotheodateoofo notificationoinotheoofficialogazetteoono28.12.1987.oSectiono2o(h)oofotheoActo defineso 'technicalo institution'o ando Sectiono 2o (i)o ofo theo Acto defineso 'University',owhichoreadoasounder:-o "(h)o "technicaloinstitution"omeansoanoinstitution,onotobeingoao Universityo whicho offerso courseso oro programmeso ofo technicalo education,o ando shallo includeo sucho othero institutionso aso theo Centralo Governmento may,o ino consultationo witho theo Council,o byo notificationo ino theo OfficialoGazettte,odeclareoasotechnicaloinstitutions:o

(i)l "University"omeansoaoUniversityodefinedounderoclauseo

(f)o ofo sectiono 2o ofo theo Universityo Grantso Commissiono Act,o1956oandoincludesoanoinstitutionodeemedotoobeoao Universityounderosectiono3oofothatoAct."o

23.o o TheopowersoandofunctionsoofotheoAICTEolaysodownotooallocateo ando disburseo theo Fundo ofo theo Council,o aso ito mayo thinko fito too technicalo institutionsoandoUniversitiesoimpartingotechnicaloeducationoinocoordinationo withotheo Commission.o Ito alsoo haso powersotoo evolveosuitableoperformanceo appraisalo systemo foro technicalo institutionso ando Universitieso impartingo LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-15 -

technicalo education,o incorporatingo normso ando mechanismso foro enforcingo accountability.oAsoperoSectiono10o(k)oofotheoAct,otheoAICTEohasotheopowerotoo grantoapprovaloforostartingonewotechnicaloinstitutionsoandoforointroductionoofo newocoursesooroprogrammesoinoconsultationowithotheoagenciesoconcerned.oo Forotheopurposeoofopresentoappeals,oitowouldobeoappositeotooquoteoChapteroIII,o Sectiono 10(1)(c),o (g),o (i),o (k),o (o),o (q)o ando (s)o ofo theo Act,o whicho readoaso under:-o "CHAPTERoIIIo POWERSoANDoFUNCTIONSoOFoTHEoCOUNCILo o

10.o(1)o xxxo o xxxo o xxxo o

(c)o allocateo ando disburseo outo ofo theo Fundo ofo theo Councilo sucho grants,o ono sucho termso ando conditionsoasoitomayothinkofitotoo–o

(i)o technicaloinstitutions,oandoo

(ii)o Universitiesoimpartingotechnicaloeducationoino coordinationowithotheoCommission;o o o xxxo o xxxo o xxxo

(g)o evolveo suitableo performanceo appraisalo systemso foro technicalo institutionso ando Universitieso impartingo technicalo education,o incorporatingo normso ando mechanismso foro enforcingo accountability;o o xxxoo o o xxxo o o xxxo

(i)l layo downo normso ando standardso foro courses,o curricula,ophysicaloandoinstructionalofacilities,o staffo pattern,o staffo qualifications,o qualityo instructions,oassessmentoandoexaminations;o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo

(k)o granto approvalo foro startingo newo technicalo institutionsoandoforointroductionoofonewocourseso LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-16 -

oro programmeso ino consultationo witho theo agenciesoconcerned;o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo

(o)o provideoguidelinesoforoadmissionoofostudentsotoo technicalo institutionso ando Universitieso impartingotechnicaloeducation;o o xxxo o o o xxxo o xxxo

(q)o withholdo oro discontinueo grantso ino respecto ofo courses,o programmeso too sucho technicalo institutionso whicho failo too complyo witho theo directionso giveno byo theo Councilo withino theo stipulatedoperiodoofotimeoandotakeosuchoothero stepso aso mayo beo necessaryo foro ensuringo complianceoofotheodirectionsoofotheoCouncil;o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo

(s)o declareotechnicaloinstitutionsoatovariousolevelso ando typeso offeringo courseso ino technicalo educationofitotooreceiveogrants;o o

24.o o Thus,ofromotheoaboveoitoisoapparentothatotheoAICTEodoesonoto haveoanyofunctionooropowersowithoregardotooaoparticularocourseoinoaouniversityo whichoisoimpartingotechnicaloeducationoinocoordinationowithotheoAICTE,obuto haso theo powero too incorporateo normso ando mechanismo foro enforcingo accountabilityoandolaidodownonormsoandostandards.oo

25.o o Aso noticedo fromo theo definitiono clause,o ito iso apparento thato 'University'ohasobeenodefinedoinodistinctionotooao'technicaloinstitution',owhileo theoAICTEowouldoexerciseooverallocontroloonoaotechnicaloinstitution.oItowouldo noto haveo theo powero too controlo oro approveo variouso courseso ofo technicalo LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-17 -

educationo beingo providedo byo ao university,o onceo theo universityo itselfo iso recognizedoasoaotechnicalouniversityoandoapprovedobyotheoAICTE.o

26.o o Weohaveoalreadyonoticedoaboveothato'DeenoBandhuoChhotuoRamo UniversityoofoScienceoandoTechnology'oisoaodulyoapprovedoUniversityobyotheo AICTE.oAsoperotheonotificationoplacedoonorecordoinoLPAoNo.o146oofo2023,o theo AICTEo whileo exercisingo powerso conferredo undero sub-sectiono (1)o ofo Sectiono23oreadowithoSectionso10oando11oofotheoActohasorecognizedopart-timeo programmeowhichoareomeantotoobeoconductedoinoeveningotimeofromo5:30o P.M.o too 9:30o P.M.,o sixo dayso ino ao weeko wherevero firsto ando generalo shifto workingoexistoandoareomeantoonlyoforoworkingoprofessionalsooroprofessionalo withoatoleastotwooyearsoofoworkoexperience.oTheoAICTEoasoperoClauseo9opart-timeoprogrammeoareopermittedoinoUniversityoaffiliatedotechnicaloeducationo managemento programmeso ando theyo areo alsoo allowedo ino AICTEo approvedo technicalomanagementoinstitutions.o

27.o o TheoAICTEoasoperotheoqueriesoandodocuments,oasonoticedoabove,o hadoissuedoaopubliconoticeoono09.01.2021owhereinoitowasonotifiedothatoallo technicalo institutionso deemedo too beo Universitieso whicho areo offeringo programmesoneedotoohaveomandatoryoapprovaloofoAICTEoinoaccordanceowitho Sectionso10oando11oofotheoActobutotheoStateoUniversitieso(Governmento&o Private)oandoCentraloUniversitiesocanorunotechnicalocoursesowithoutoapprovalo ofotheoAICTEobutotheocoursesoofoDistanceoStudyoandoOpenoLearningowouldo requireoNOCofromotheoAICTEoevenoforosuchouniversities.oTheosaidopublico notice,oinoouroopinion,oisoinocomplianceoofotheoorderopassedobyotheoSupremeo LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-18 -

CourtoinoOrissaoLiftoIrrigationoCorporationoLimitedovsoRabioSankaroPatroo andootherso2018o(1)oSCCo468,owhereinoitohasobeenoheldoasounder:-o "36.oTheodefinitionoofo"TechnicaloEducation"oinoSectiono 2(g)oofo theo AICTEo Acto showso thato theo emphasiso iso ono theo programmeso ofo education,o researcho ando trainingo ino EngineeringoTechnologyoinogeneraloandotheoideaoisonotolimitedo too theo institutionso whereo sucho programmeso ofo education,o researcho ando trainingo areo too beo conductedo oro imparted.o However,o theo definitiono ofo "Technicalo Institution"o inoSectiono 2(h)oleaveso outo ano institutiono whicho iso ao University.o Theo distinctiono betweeno theo broadero concepto ofo "Technicalo Education"oandotheolimitedoscopeoofo"TechnicaloInstitution"oiso clearofromoSectiono10oofotheoAICTEoActowhereocertainofunctionso concernotheobroaderofacetsooroaspectsoofotechnicaloeducationo whicho byo veryo natureo musto applyo too everyo singleo institutiono (whetherouniversityooronot)owhereosuchocoursesoareoconductedo oroimparted.oAtotheosameotime,ocertainofunctionsoareorelatableotoo technicalo institutionso alone,o whicho byo definitiono areo noto applicableo too universities.o Foro example,o Functionso ino sub-clauseso (a),o (b),o (d),o (e),o (f),o (l)o ando (n)o areo concernedo witho broadero facetso ofo technicalo education,o whileo functionso ino Clauseso (k),o (m),o (p)o ando (q)o dealo witho matterso concerningo technicaloinstitutionso andothuso mayonotoapplyo toouniversities,o whereasothereoareocertainofunctionsoasosetooutoinoClauseso(g)o ando (o)o whicho applyo too botho "Technicalo Institutions"o ando "Universities"oimpartingotechnicaloeducation.oClauseso(c),o(d)o ando(f)oofoSectiono10odealowithosubjects,ointeroalia,ocoordinationo ofo theo technicalo educationo ino theo countryo ato allo levels;o promotingoinnovation,oresearch,odevelopment,oestablishmentoofo newotechnologies,ogeneration,oadoptionoandoadaptationoofonewo technologieso too meeto theo developmentalo requirements;o ando promotingoandoeffectingolinkobetweenotechnicaloeducationoando LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-19 -

systemso ando othero relevanto systems.o AICTEo iso thuso theo soleo repositoryo ofo powero too layo downo parameterso oro qualitativeo normso foro "technicalo education".o Whato shouldo beo courseo content,owhatosubjectsobeotaughtoandowhatoshouldobeotheolengtho andodurationoofotheocoursesoasowelloasotheomanneroinowhicho thoseocoursesobeoconductedoisoaopartoofotheolargeroconceptoofo "technicaloeducation".oAnyoideaooroinnovationoinothatofieldoiso alsooaopartoofotheoconceptoofo"technicaloeducation"oandomust,o asoaomatteroofoprinciple,obeoinotheoexclusiveodomainoofoAICTE."o

28.o o InoDr.B.oL.oAsawaovsoStateoofoRajasthanoandootherso1982o(2)o SCCo55,oHon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoheldoasounder:-o "11.o Theo Universityo ofo Biharo ato Muzaffarpuro iso oneo dulyo establishedo byo statuteo ando ito iso fullyo competento too conducto examinationso ando awardo degrees.o Theo Degreeo ofo Doctoro ofo Medicineo(ForensicoMedicine)-M.D.o(ForensicoMedicine)-ofotheo UniversityoofoBiharoisoincludedoinotheoScheduleotootheoIndiano MedicaloCounciloAct,o1956oasoaodegreeofullyorecognisedobyotheo IndianoMedicaloCouncilowhichoisotheoparamountoprofessionalo bodyosetoupobyostatuteowithoauthorityotoorecogniseotheomedicalo qualificationsograntedobyoanyoUniversityooroMedicaloInstitutiono ino India.o Ao Post-graduateo Medicalo Degreeo grantedo byo ao Universityodulyoestablishedobyostatuteoinothisocountryoandowhicho haso alsoo beeno recognisedo byo theo Indiano Medicalo Councilo byo inclusionotootheoScheduleoofotheoMedicaloCounciloActohasoipsoo factootoobeoregarded,oacceptedoandotreatedoasovalidothroughouto ouro country.o Ino theo absenceo ofo anyo expresso provisiono too theo contrary,o sucho ao degreeo doeso noto requireo too beo specificallyo recognisedobyootheroUniversitiesoinoanyoStateoinoIndiaobeforeoito cano beo acceptedo aso ao valido qualificationo foro theo purposeo ofo appointmentotooanyopostoinosuchoaoState.oTheoDivisionoBenchoofo theo Higho Courto was,o ino ouro opinion,o manifestlyo ino erroro ino LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-20 -

thinkingothatosinceotheoPost-graduateodegreeopossessedobyotheo appellanto waso noto oneo obtainedo fromo theo Universityo ofo Rajasthan,oitocouldonotobeotreatedoasoaovalidoqualificationoforo theopurposeooforecruitmentoinoquestionoinotheoabsenceoofoanyo specificoorderobyotheoUniversityoofoRajasthanorecognisingotheo saidodegreeoorodeclaringoitoasoanoequivalentoqualification."oo

29.o o Thusoitohasobeenoheldothatoonceoaodegreeoisoawardedobyoaodulyo recognizedo institution,o theo questiono ofo itso recognitiono oro equivalenceo iso primarilyo foro theo employero too determineo ando unlesso specificallyo declaredo invalidobyoaocompetentoauthorityosuchoaodegreeomustobeotreatedoasovalidoforo allo serviceo matters.o Ito waso furthero heldo thato theo Courtso shouldo noto sito ino judgmentooverotheostandardsooroqualityoofodegreeoawardedobyoaouniversityo unlessothereoisoanoallegationoofogrossoregularities.oo

30.o o TheoB.Techo(CiviloEngineering)oweekend/opart-timeobeingoruno byotheoUniversityowasodulyoapprovedobyoitsoacademicoandoexecutiveocouncils.o Theo representativeo ofo Technicalo Educationo Departmento ofo theo Stateo Governmento hado alsoo participated.o Theo programmeo requiredo physicalo attendance,ofullocurriculaoasoequivalentotooaothreeoyearocourseoandotheofacultyo membersoareoofotheoUniversity.oItoisoaoresidentialocourseobeingorunoinotheo universityoitselfoand,otherefore,oitocannotobeosaidotoobeoaodistanceoeducationo programme.oo

31.o o TheoStateoGovernmentorecognizedotheocoursesoandoallowedoitso employeesotoojoinotheocourseoinotheoeveningoclassesoafterotheyoperformedotheo dutiesowithotheoStateoGovernment.oInofact,othisoCourtoappreciateotheoapproacho adoptedobyotheoStateoGovernmentotooallowoitsoemployeesotooimproveotheiro technicaloknowhowoandoeducation.oTheocourseohasodulyobeenoexecutedobyotheo LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-21 -

StateoGovernmentoandohasobeenorecordedoasopartoofotheoqualificationoacquiredo byotheoconcernedoappellantsoandohasobeenoenteredoinotheiroserviceobooks.oTheo recordo furthero revealso thato theo AICTEo byo publico notificationo datedo

13.08.2020oclarifiesothatotechnicaloprogrammesoconductedothroughoweekend/o part-timeooroeveningoshiftomodesowithophysicaloattendantsoandoadherenceotoo theoprescribedocurriculamoareotoobeotreatedoasoregularocourses.oInoouroview,o theosaidodeclarationowouldoapplyotootheocoursesowhichohaveoalreadyobeeno conductedoandowouldonotobeoforoanyocourseoalone.oThoseowhoohaveoalreadyo passedo sucho typeo ofo courseo wouldo haveo becomeo too haveo doneo ao regularo course.oo

32.o o InoBharathidasanoUniversityoandoanotherovsoAlloIndiaoCouncilo foroTechnicaloEducationoandootherso2001o(8)oSCCo676oafteroexaminingotheo AICTEo Acto provisionso whereofo haveo beeno noticedo byo uso hereinabove,o Hon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoheldothatotheoUniversityodoesonotorequireotooseeko prioroapprovaloforocommencingotechnicalocoursesoasoSectiono2(h)oofotheoActo definingo'technicaloinstitution'oexcludesoaouniversity.oTheouniversityobeingoao Stateouniversity,ohowever,odoesonotorequireosuchoapproval.oWeofindothato4o yearsodegreeohasoparityowithoregularo3oyearsodegreeoasotheocontentsoofotheo courseoandotheofacultyomembersoimpartingoeducationoandoinfrastructureoando theotimeoprovidedoforoteachingomakeothemoequaloinoallorespects.oo

33.o o Takingointooconsiderationotheoaforesaidolaw,oweofindoourselveso unableotooconfirmotheoviewoasoexpressedobyotheolearnedoSingleoJudge.oWeo findo theo documentso whicho areo ono recordo onlyo leado uso too oneo singleo conclusionothatoallotheocoursesobeingorunobyotheouniversityohaveotoobeotreatedo LPAoNo.o128oofo2023oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-22 -

asoregularocourses.oTheo3oyearsocourseoando4oyearsocourseopart-timeoeveningo courseohaveotoobeotreatedoasoequivalentoforoallopurposesoasounderstoodobyotheo universityoitself.oTheoStateoGovernmentohasodulyorecognizedosuchocourseoando theoappellantsocannotobeodeniedotheobenefitsoofosuchoqualification.oInoviewo thereto,oweosetoasideotheojudgmentopassedobyotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeodatedo

21.12.2000oandodismissotheowritopetitionsopreferredobyotheorespondents.oTheo appellantsoshallobeoconsideredoasodulyoqualifiedoasoperotheiroseniorityoforo promotionofromotheodateotheopersonsojuniorotoothemohaveobeenograntedowitho alloconsequentialobenefits.oTheocomplianceoshallobeomadeowithinoaoperiodoofo twoomonthsohenceforth.oo

34.o o Inoviewoofotheodiscussionoaforesaid,oLPAoNos.o128,o146,o215,o 216,o217,o223,o224,o225,o226,o228oando229oofo2023oareoallowed.oo

34.o o Allopendingoapplicationsoshallostandodisposedoof.oo

35.o o Noocosts.o o o o o o o o (SANJEEVoPRAKASHoSHARMA)o o o o o o o o o oJUDGEoo o ooooMay,o2025o o o o oooooo (H.oS.oGREWAL)o vso o o o o o o oooooooooJUDGEoo o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo o Yes/Noo Whetheroreportableo o o Yes/Noo o o o