Distance learning MCA not same as regular, says Punjab and Haryana HC
10/02/2015
CHANDIGARH: In a verdict that will have wide ramifications, especially against those running study centres facilitating gullible youths to obtain a degree in computer science, Punjab and Haryana high court has ruled that a degree in the subject obtained through distance mode could not be at par with the one obtained by attending regular classes.
"A candidate who has not acquired knowledge by attending regular classes cannot be said to be at par with the candidate who has attended classes through regular mode. The degree may be same, but the process of acquisition of degree is different," held the HC.
A division bench headed by Justice Hemant Gupta passed these orders while upholding Haryana Staff Selection Commission's decision rejecting applications of candidates for post-graduate teachers (PGTs), who had obtained Master of Computer Applications (MCA) or MSc (computer science) through distance mode.
With these orders, all those who have obtained MCA or MSc (computer science) degrees through distance education from Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, Kurukshetra University, Guru Jambheshwar University of Sciences and Technology, Hisar, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak and Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa, would be ineligible for the post of computer science teachers in Haryana.
The matter had reached the high court in the wake of a bunch of petitions filed by Sunil Sharma and others, who had challenged the criteria of educational qualification for the post of PGT (computer science) advertised in July to fill 446 posts. The commission had made it clear that those having MSc (computer science) or MCA through distance mode would not be eligible to apply.
The petitioners' grievance was that they were qualified degree holders of MSc (computer science) or MCA, only they had studied under distance education programmes. They argued that duration of the course, mode of examination and syllabus for obtaining the degrees through distance and regular mode was same; therefore, such distinction by the commission was arbitrary.
Rejecting their pleas, the HC held that as the mode of obtaining PG degree in MSc (computer science) or MCA was said to be similar, the employer could always fix higher qualifications for the purpose of appointment.
By Ajay Sura