Open university PhDs at par with conventional PhDs: SC

UGC norms binding

The Supreme Court has held that a PhD conferred by an Open University would be treated at par with doctorate granted by a conventional varsity.

A bench of justices S A Bobde and L Nageswara Rao said, “We are of the view that as a consequence, PhD degree issued by an open university and another PhD degree issued by a formal conventional university must, therefore, be treated at par having been so issued under the uniform standards prescribed by University Grants Commission Act,” the court said.

The court passed its order allowing an appeal by Abdul Motin against a Calcutta High Court judgement that had held that his PhD from Netaji Subhas Open University cannot be accepted as a valid degree for the post of principal.

The top court said that the Supreme Court, in 2009, had already said the UGC Act was passed for effectuating co-ordination and determination of standards in Universities.

“Its provisions are binding on all universities whether conventional or open and its powers are very broad. The regulations framed under that act apply equally to open universities as well as to formal conventional universities,” the court had then said.