PRAMOD KUMAR KUSHWAHA Vs. INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Petitioner had applied for admission to the MBA Course conducted by the I.I.T. , Delhi. Not only had he cleared the Examination but he had also been called for the Interview. It was after that stage that the Respondents took the decision that his educational qualifications are not equivalent to those acceptable by them. The fact that the Petitioner had reached this advanced stage before the Respondents considered it appropriate to look into his qualifications is a factor which the Respondents should ensure that does not recur in the future. So far as appearing in the Examination is concerned, it may be reasonable for a University to fall back on the large number of applications it receives to submit that it is not feasible to check equivalence or basic qualifications at the early stage. But certainly when candidates are called for Interviews, and they are shortlisted prior to the interview, it is certainly feasible that such a scrutiny should be undertaken.

(2.) The eligibility criteria for admission to the MBA Course is a Bachelors' Degree in sundry disciplines or a Masters' Degree also in various specified subjects. So far as the Petitioner is concerned, he holds a Bachelors' Degree in Engineering (AMIE) conferred by the Institute of Engineers (India). In its Counter Affidavit the Respondents have categorically and unequivocally stated that "the AMIE qualification has never been considered equivalent to the B.Tech. Degree offered by the answering respondents". It is contended by learned counsel for the Petitioner that this was not stated in the Prospectus, as has been so stated by I.I.T. , Kanpur. In my opinion this would make no material difference since it would be unreasonable to mention each and every qualification which is not recognised.

(3.) The next question is whether the M.S. Degree received by the Petitioner from B.I.T.S., Pilani falls with the eligibility criteria for JMET-2002. The Respondent's stance in this regard is that the Master of Science Degree awarded by B.I.T.S., Pilani for the Off-campus Distance Learning and Collaborative Programme cannot be regarded as equivalent to the M.E./M. Tech Degree. In the letter dated 22.5.2003 the reasons why this decision has been taken has been spelt out. This policy appears to have been uniformally followed by the I.I.T. , Delhi. Learned counsel for the Petitioner has attempted to show that his professional experience renders the three conditions superfluous, but this question must be left to the University.