JUDGMENT

[WP(C) Nos.16419/2022, 10819/2022, 25569/2022, 26231/2022, 30593/2022]

The common issue in these cases – which have been heard together adverting to the similarity of the reliefs sought for therein – is whether the petitioners are entitled to obtain Equivalency Certificates from various Universities in Kerala qua their educational qualifications obtained from the Annamalai University and the Madras University through the Distance Education Programme.

2. The Universities in Kerala appear to have rejected the requests of the petitioners citing the reason that the University Grants Commission (UGC) has not permitted any University to conduct Distance Education Courses beyond their limits of territory.

3. However, it is also conceded, and evident from the pleadings on record, that the instructions of the UGC against the aforementioned Universities have been stayed by the High Court of Madras and that they are thus now conducting their Distance Education Programme even beyond their territorial perimeters.

4. In fact, as far as the Madras University is concerned, it is admitted that, except for the period between 2017 and 2019, the UGC has permitted them to conduct Distance Education