IGNOU B.Tech Degrees/Diploma through distance gets big boost; SC says AICTE approval not needed

NEW DELHI, AUGUST 3: B.Tech Degrees and Diploma courses offered through distance mode by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) are set to take off like never before, with a new directive from Supreme Court of India that reads it (IGNOU) no longer needs the AICTE’s approval for offering these programmes.

The decision was pronounced on July 30 by a Bench of Justices - Rohinton Fali Nariman and Indu Malhotra, in response to a petition filed by some twenty-one IGNOU degree and diploma holders. The petitioners had argued that the technical degrees and diplomas awarded by IGNOU through open and distance mode are not only valid, but are equivalent to Degrees/ Diplomas/ Certificates awarded by many traditional universities or institutes approved by AICTE.

The petitioners were represented in Court by Senior Advocate Meenakshi Arora and advocate D Abhinav Rao.

For delivering the judgement, the bench cited the similar case of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University vs. The Chairman and Managing Director, Transmission Corporation of Telangana Ltd. & Ors. (Civil Appeal Nos. 36973698/ 2018), which was decided on April 10, 2018.

In that particular case, the court had opined that since the appellant University was set up by a State Statute, it must definitely have followed AICTE norms meaning additional approval isn’t required.

The Court in its judgement said it saw no difference between the two cases, and maintained that IGNOU is bound to follow all AICTE norms rigorously, despite it being relieved of requirement of AICTE approval.

IGNOU vs Deemed to be Universities: A study in contrast 

The decision by the Supreme Court brings to mind another order it passed in November 2018, when it barred Deemed to be Universities from offering distance courses from the Academic Session 2018- 2019. And if they wanted to, they have to get express permission from the concerned authorities.

However, in light of the recent decision, it would be interesting to see if any of them would also try to get the same privilege granted to IGNOU.