Tech degree via ‘weekend course’ not at par with regular degree: Punjab and Haryana HC

CHANDIGARH: In a significant judgment, the Punjab and Haryana high court has held that a technical degree provided by an educational institution through a ‘weekend course’ seems completely against the concept of ‘imparting meaningful education to evolve a healthy mind.’
“Needless to say, that a fatigued body and stale mind having worked whole time continuously for five days and then for the remaining days of the week sandwiched with back-to-back classes for B Tech involving intensive studies in the highly technical subject of engineering would hardly be left with any time or energy for self-study required for in-depth understanding and appreciation of the course subject.
It would at best only lead to a paper degree without there being any real addition to the subject knowledge and mental growth of the person, more particularly when the subject of studies is of higher technical level and of expert nature requiring constant and focused understanding,” held Justice Arun Monga.
He passed these orders while holding the B Tech degree course acquired via ‘weekend mode’ (Saturday and Sunday), run by Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal, Sonipat, invalid for the purpose of promotions of junior engineers to the post of sub-divisional engineers (civil) in the Haryana public works department (PWD).
The HC, however, clarified that a ‘part-time’ course is different from a ‘weekend course’ and a person possessing a ‘part-time’ degree would be fully eligible.
“Definitely, a part-time course where classes are conducted either on a day-to-day basis or on alternate days or even in the evening stands on a much higher footing than a weekend course where classes are confined tightly and squeezed for two days in a week,” observed the judge.
The matter reached the HC in the wake of a bunch of petitions filed by some PWD employees working as JE in PWD (B&R) questioning the department’s decision to consider for promotion JEs, who had procured a B Tech degree through a weekend course run by Deen Bandu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal, Haryana, to the post of SDE (civil) or assistant engineers from engineering graduate quota.
The main issue before the HC for adjudication was whether an in-service JE who acquired a B Tech. degree via a weekend course is entitled to be considered for promotion to the next higher post. The petitioners also contended that this course was not approved by the AllIndia Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
The university, on the other hand, argued that no prior approval of AICTE was required for any new technical course to be commenced by a varsity. It submitted that it is completely irrelevant whether the B Tech degree was awarded through a weekend course, a part-time course or a full-time regular course as long as the decision was taken in accordance with law by the academic council of the university to start the said degree course.
After hearing all the parties, the HC allowed the petition and held the weekend course degree invalid for the purpose of promotion under the engineering graduate quota.
“In the overall analysis, it is held that the weekend B Tech degree qualifications warranted an AICTE approval qua its norms, which was not obtained by university, and such degrees are held to be non-compliant of AICTE norms in the absence of specific approval qua the same.
There cannot be a presumption of complying with norms and thus inferring a deemed AICTE approval. The weekend course degree cannot be treated at par with the qualification of a degree prescribed by the Punjab Service of Engineers class II, PWD (Buildings & Roads Branch) Rules, 1965,” the HC ruled