Diploma through distance mode cannot be equated with diploma through regular classroom studies: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Wednesday held that a diploma earned through distance education mode cannot be equated with the diploma granted through regular classroom studies (Devender Bhaskar vs State of Haryana)..A Bench of Justices S Abdul Nazeer and Krishna Murari also stated that judicial review by court can neither expand the ambit of the prescribed qualifications nor decide the equivalence of the prescribed qualifications with any other given qualification.“Equivalence of qualification is a matter for the State, as recruiting authority, to determine,” the Court said..In 2006, the Haryana State Staff Selection Commission had invited applications to fill up 816 posts of arts and crafts teachers in the State. The eligibility prescribed was a diploma in arts and crafts. Some of the candidates who pursued diploma in distance mode from Kurukshetra University did not make the cut. They then challenged the same before the Punjab & Haryana High Court which ruled that the petitioners have a legal right to be considered for the post of arts and crafts teachers on the strength of the diploma secured by them from the Kurukshetra University..This led to the present appeal before the top court..The Supreme Court ruled that the High Court erred in holding that the diploma/degree in arts and crafts given by the Kurukshetra University is equivalent to two-year Diploma in art and craft examination conducted by the Haryana Industrial Training Department or diploma in art and craft conducted by Director, Industrial Training and Vocational Education, Haryana..“The diploma in Art and Craft is given by the Industrial Training and Vocational Education Department, Haryana, to the students who attend regular class room teaching. Most of the subjects are practical subjects and their study is not possible through distance education. The Kurukshetra University grants the diploma in Art and Craft through distance education. This diploma cannot be equated with the diploma given through regular classroom studies,” the Court ruled..The Bench while allowing the appeal also noted that the Kurukshetra University had issued a caution notice in various leading newspapers in which it was made clear that some institutions had given misleading advertisements for Kurukshetra University course of Art and Craft as a teacher training course..It was also clarified that the diploma in Art and Craft from the Kurukshetra University does not guarantee any specific job..[Read Judgment]