AICTE to conduct test for students whose engg degrees were suspended by SC

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has opened registration of the students of four deemed-to-be-universities for a test whose engineering degrees and diplomas obtained through distance education mode were suspended by the Supreme Court in a recent verdict last month.

"The last date for online registration of the students, willing to appear in the test to get their qualifications redeemed, is January 15, 2018,   till 5 pm," the AICTE said issuing a notification for the test.

Lakhs of students are expected to take the test who obtained their engineering degree and diplomas through correspondence course from the JRN Rajasthan Vidyapeeth, Rajasthan; Institute of Advanced Studies in Education, Rajasthan; Allahabad Agriculture Research Institute, Allahabad; and Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation, Tamil Nadu between 2001-2005.

In a hard-hitting judgement on November 3, the Supreme Court suspended the engineering degrees and diplomas granted by these four deemed-to-be-universities to their students between 2001-2005.

The court also directed the AICTE to conduct a test, both written and practical, for these students, holding that the engineering degrees and diplomas of those failing to clear the examinations will stand cancelled .

The apex court also ordered for "a thorough investigation" into the case by the CBI, holding that the grant of ex-post-facto approval to the four institutions correspondence course in engineering and technology by the University Grants Commission (UGC) was "incorrect and illegal."

"The students who obtained their degrees, diplomas or any other certificate from these institutions in engineering and technology can register online for appearing in the test likely to be conducted in May-June 2018. As per the apex court order, degrees of the students will remain valid only if they pass the examinations," an AICTE official said.

"These four institutions have awarded engineering degrees to lakhs of students enrolled in their correspondence courses. At least 4.5 lakh engineering degrees and diplomas were issued by these institutions after 2014," official sources told DH.

The Supreme Court has cancelled the validity of all the engineering degrees, diploma and certificates awarded by these four institutions to their students enrolled in their correspondence courses after 2005.