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| Distance-Mode Engineering Degree Can't Add Weightage: DB | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Sept 16: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh at Jammu has held that engineering degrees obtained through distance mode from deemed universities cannot be given weightage in government recruitment processes, dismissing petitions filed by a candidate in a long-pending Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) selection case.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul and Justice Sanjay Dhar delivered the ruling while deciding two writ petitions filed by Engineer Chagger Singh Billowria against the Central Administrative Tribunal's (CAT) June 2025 judgment. The Tribunal had directed the appointment of another candidate, Ramandeep Singh, to the post of Motor Vehicle Inspector (Technical) in the Transport Department.
The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) had in 2008 advertised four posts of MVI (Technical), but the recruitment process stretched for years due to re-advertisements, revised eligibility norms, and disputes over candidates' experience and qualifications.
Billowria, who figured in the merit list, was awarded additional points for an M.Tech degree obtained through distance mode from Vinayaka Missions University. On this basis, he claimed priority over other contenders, including Ramandeep Singh.
The Division Bench referred to the Supreme Court's 2018 judgment in Orissa Lift Irrigation Corporation Ltd. vs. Rabi Shankar Patro, which had invalidated engineering degrees awarded by deemed universities through distance education. The apex court had ruled that such degrees could not confer benefits unless the candidates cleared a special AICTE-devised test - something Billowria had not done. The Division Bench observed: "The degree certificate relied upon by the writ petitioner could not have been taken into consideration by the Board while calculating his overall merit in the selection process."
Once the 6.69 points wrongly given for the invalid M.Tech degree were deducted, Billowria's merit rank fell below that of Ramandeep Singh, who had secured higher marks in the written test
The Division Bench also dismissed doubts raised over Singh's eligibility, including his experience certificate from Chowdhary Motors and his driving licence endorsements. The Bench noted that the certificate's authenticity had not been disputed by the issuing authority and that Singh's licence had valid endorsements dating back to 2006, well before the cut-off date.
Holding that Singh had superior merit and met the eligibility requirements, the Division Bench upheld the CAT order and dismissed Billowria's petitions. (JNF) |
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