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2025 Supreme(Ker) 1847
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
D. K. SINGH, J.
Aathika Mariyam Bindu Nowfal D/o Nowfal Salam - Appellant
Vs.
The University Of Kerala - Respondent
WP(C) NO. 2585 Of 2024
Decided On : 24-06-2025
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant : SRI.P.M.SANEER SHRI.TONY GEORGE KANNANTHANAM SHRI.BIBIN B. THOMAS
For the Respondent: SHRI.THOMAS ABRAHAM, SC, UNIVERSITY OF KERALA SHRI.S.KRISHNAMOORTHY, SC, S.KRISHNAMOORTHY, SC, UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION - UGC
The court affirmed that an equivalence certificate granted by the Association of Indian Universities suffices for university admission, establishing the recognition of international qualifications.
Headnote:(A) Education - Recognition of Qualifications - Writ petition filed challenging the refusal of University to recognize the petitioner’s International Advanced Level certificate for admission to degree programs - Association of Indian Universities’ equivalence certificate deemed sufficient for admission - Not contesting the equivalence certificate, the court directs recognition of the qualification for university admission. (Paras 4-10)
Facts of the case:
Petitioner, a student, has completed schooling and is facing denial of admission to the University due to non-recognition of her qualification by the University. She holds an equivalence certificate from the Association of Indian Universities stating her qualification is equivalent to +2 of Indian Boards.
Findings of Court:
The respondent University did not dispute the equivalence certification provided by the Association of Indian Universities, which is deemed sufficient for admission purposes.
Issues: The controversy revolves around the recognition of the petitioner’s qualification and whether the Association of Indian Universities' certificate suffices for university admission.
Ratio Decidendi: The court ruled that the Equivalence Certificate issued by the Association of Indian Universities is sufficient for admission to Bachelor’s degree programs, thereby reaffirming the authority of the Association in such matters. The University’s lack of disputation regarding this equivalence adds weight to the petitioner’s claim.
Result: Writ petition allowed.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. facts of the case concerning educational qualifications. (Para 1 , 2 , 3) |
| 2. arguments regarding equivalence of educational certificates. (Para 4 , 5 , 6) |
| 3. court analysis on recognition of equivalence certificates. (Para 7 , 8) |
| 4. legal reasoning on validity of equivalence by aiu. (Para 9) |
| 5. conclusion directing university to accept equivalence. (Para 10) |
JUDGMENT :
D. K. SINGH, J.
The petitioner is a student who completed her schooling (+2) from Peace Public School, Kollam. The School is recognised by the parent body of Edexcel in the United Kingdom (U.K.), which issues educational course certificates. It is further submitted that the examinations conducted after the said course (Pearson International Advanced Level) are recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and other Universities in Kerala.
2. The petitioner joined S N College for Women, Kollam, for her Degree Course (B.A. Literature). But, the University of Kerala/ 2nd respondent is not registering her admission, and thereby the petitioner apprehends that she may not be permitted to appear for her university examinations.
3. The petitioner has filed the present writ petition for a direction to the respondent University to recognise the petitioner’s certificate in Ext.P4 as equivalent to +2 of the Indian Boards, giving access to Degree Programs in the University.
4. The learned Counsel for the respondent University submits that the courses recognised by the University of Kerala for admission in Degree course are IGCSE, GCE ‘O’ level and ‘A’ level examination of Edexcel conducted in India based on the recognition of Higher Secondary Education of Kerala. However, the course title in the certificate of the petitioner is ‘International Advanced Level’ Examination of Edexcel, which is not a recognised course of higher studies under the University. Granting recognition of ‘International Advanced Level’ examinations of Edexcel by the University is subject to the approval of the Academic Council of the University of Kerala, based on the remarks from the Higher Secondary Directorate. The Higher Secondary Directorate has not provided any reply on the recognition status of the course studied by the petitioner.
5. The learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner had initially completed her 10th standard under the CBSE stream and thereafter 5 Advanced Level passes from Edexcel. The Edexcel “Pearson” had issued her the mark/grade score for her examination conducted in January 2023, and a formal notification has been issued. Thereafter, a fresh certificate was issued certifying that the petitioner had appeared and passed the Edexcel International Advanced Level (A-level) examination.
5.1 Further, it is submitted that the Association of Indian Universities has already certified that the qualification acquired by the petitioner is equated with the +2 of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which is evident from the Ext.P4 Equivalence Certificate issued by the Association of Indian Universities dated 08.08.2023, which reads as under:
| “EQUIVALENCE CERTIFICATE | |
| NAME MR./MS. | AATHIKA MARIAM BINDH NOWFAL SCHOOL LEVEL |
| SCHOOL LEVEL | 12th |
| SCHOOL/BOARD NAME | Secondary School Certificate Examination and Advanced’ Level |
| AWARDING UNIVERSITY/INSTITUTE | Central Board of Secondary Education, Delhi & Edexcel (Pearson) UK |
| SCORE/GRADE | As Shown on the Academic Transcript |
| EVALUATION OF EDUCATIONAL CREDENTIALS | |
AATHIKA MARIAM BINDH NOWFAL has passed 10 Year Secondary School Certificate Examination from Central Board of Secondary Education, Delhi and has also obtained 5(FIVE) ’Advanced Level Passes from Edexcel, an approved British Examining Body in UK this qualification is EQUATED with 12 Year Senior School Certificate of Central Board of Secondary Education, Delhi/Other Boards in India.
(THE ORIGINAL CERTIFICATES AND SUBJECT-WISE ELIGIBILITY WILL BE VERIFIED BY THE ADMISSION GIVING UNIVERSITY/INSTITUTE)
5.2 Furthermore, no further equivalence is required from any other a
