Pune: In a recent judgement, the Supreme Court has stated that Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) does not need approval from All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) for technical courses ie. BTech degree/diploma.
Until four years back IGNOU was running these two technical courses, however, when AICTE issued an objection letter to the open university, it subsequently stopped the courses. In fear of repercussions of this notice, many students had approached the Supreme Court (SC) to make the engineering degree and diploma obtained from IGNOU valid as this would harm their career, stated an official from IGNOU.
In response to which SC has not ruled that the university which was established under an act of Parliament cannot necessarily have an approval to run those courses. The order states that it is enough that AICTE norms should be followed while granting the BTech degree/diploma case. AICTE norms will be adhered strictly by the institution in question but that AICTE approval for the said course is not necessary.
Officials from IGNOU have hailed the SC decision and stated that this will bring respite to several students who were afraid that it will negatively impact their career.
Masood Parveez, Regional Officer of IGNOU, Pune said, “Based on this decision IGNOU is mulling on restarting the courses.”
