C.ANAND Vs. CHAIRMAN TEACHERS RECRUITMENT BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Writ Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondents to issue an equivalence certificate to the effect that M.Sc., (Information Technology and Management) degree is equivalent to Master's Degree in Computer Science or Information Technology for the purpose of employment in direct recruitment for the post of Computer Instructors Grade - I (Post Graduate Cadre), called for by the first respondent, in Notification No.9 of 2019, dated 01.03.2019.

(2.) According to the petitioner, after completion of his under graduation in Computer Science, he joined M.Sc., (IT and M) and completed the same. The third respondent, vide G.O.(Ms)No.26, School Education (SE7-1) Department, dated 12.02.2019, has fixed the minimum qualification for recruitment as Education Teachers and Physical Education Teachers in Schools. Further, according to the petitioner, he is holding Post Graduate Degree in Computer along B.Ed. Degree and therefore, he is eligible for the post of Computer Instructors Grade - I (Post Graduate cadre). The first respondent, vide Advertisement No.9 of 2019, dated 01.03.2019, called for applications through online mode for direct recruitment of 814 posts of Computer Instructors Grade - I (Post Graduate cadre). In Paragraph No.4(b)(iii) of the said advertisement, one of the Educational qualifications prescribed for the said post is as follows:-

(3.) According to the petitioner, in the above said prescribed educational qualification fixed by the authorities, M.Sc., (Information Technology and Management) was not included. Further, M.Sc., (Information Technology and Management) is equivalent to Master's Degree in Computer Science or Information Technology and unit wise syllabus are also one and the same. In such circumstances, the respondents are duty bound to accept the petitioner's degree on issuance of equivalency certificate. Immediately, on perusing the notification, the petitioner has approached the sixth respondent University in person seeking to provide equivalency certificate for the purpose of applying to the said post, for which, the sixth respondent University did not give any reply and nearly 4000 persons have completed the above said degrees and certificates have also been issued by the sixth respondent. In spite of the said degree is equivalent, the degree-holders are deprived from applying to the said post. Further, the online application process was commenced on 20.03.2019 and the last date for submission of online application was 10.04.2019. The petitioner, having left with no other option, applied for the post through online, hoping that positively they would provide equivalency certificate for the said degree. In the meantime, few similarly placed persons approached this Court by way of filing Writ Petitions and this Court, vide order dated 10.04.2019, allowed the petitioners therein to apply for the said post within 12.04.2019 in person at Chennai Head Office of the first respondent. Similarly, few more students approached this Court and also obtained similar order. A final order was passed in the said writ petitions on 27.04.2019 and the relevant portion of the said order reads as follows:-