w h e r e e v e r t h e y live. It is an i n d u s t r i a l i z e d form of t e a c h i n g and

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2 3 b D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n - In India S o c i o - L e g a l A n a l y s i s A- D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n - C o n c e p t D i s t a n c e T e a c h i n g or E d u c a t i o n is a m e t h o d of i m p a r t i n g knowledge, s k i l l s and a t t i t u d e s w h i c h is r a t i o n a l i s e d by a p p l i c a tion of d i v i s i o n of labour and o r g a n i s a t i o n a l p r i n c i p l e s as well as by e x t e n s i v e u s e of t e c h n o l o g i c a l media, e s p e c i a l l y for the p u r p o s e of r e s p o n d i n g h i g h q u a l i t y t e a c h i n g m a t e r i a l w h i c h m a k e s it p o s s i b l e to i n s t r u c t g r e a t n u m b e r of s t u d e n t s at the s a m e time w h e r e e v e r t h e y live. It is an i n d u s t r i a l i z e d form of t e a c h i n g and l e a r n i n g.1 D i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n is a l s o d e f i n e d as f a m i l y of i n s t r u c t i o n al m e t h o d s in w h i c h the t e a c h i n g b e h a v i o r s a r e e x e c u t e d a p a r t from the l e a r n i n g b e h a v i o u r s, i n c l u d i n g t h o s e t h a t in a c o n t i g u o u s s i t u a t i o n w o u l d be p e r f o r m e d in the learners' p r e s e n c e, so that the c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n the t e a c h e r and t h e l e a r n e r m u s t be f a c i l i t a t e d by print, e l e c t r o n i c, m e c h a n i c a l o r o t h e r d e v i c e s. 2 isl I N T R O D U C T I O N i T h e r e is c o n f u s i o n on t h e t e r m i n o l o g y u s e d in the f i e l d of d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n. T h e d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n is known w i t h d i f f e r e n t t e r m s s u c h as, c o r r e s p o n d e n c e study, h o m e study, i n d e p e n d e n t study, e x t e r n a l study, postal study, d i s t a n c e t e a c h i n g and d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n. T h e r e is a l s o c o n f u s i o n a b o u t the p l a c e of d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n w i t h i n e d u c a t i o n as a w h o l e and w h e t h er it is i d e n t i c a l to o r to be d i f f e r e n t i a t e d f r o m s u c h a r e a s as c o r r e s p o n d e n c e e d u c a t i o n, n o n - t r a d i t i o n a l e d u c a t i o n, o f f - c a m p u s e d u c a t i o n, o p e n l e a r n i n g and e x t e n s i o n e d u c a t i o n. T h e r e f o r e, t h e r e is the, n e e d f o r m o r e t h e o r e t i c a l a n a l y s i s and for i n t e l l e c t u a l i -

3 97 z ation of the d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n L e t us d e f i n e and a n a l y s e few d e f i n i t i o n s of the d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n. T o H o l m b e r g 4, the "term c o v e r s the v a r i o u s f o r m s of s t u d y at all levels w h i c h a r e not u n d e r the c o n t i n u o u s, i m m e d i a t e s u p e r v i s i o n of t u t o r s p r e s e n t w i t h their s t u d e n t s in a c l a s s r o o m or on the s a m e p r e m i s e s, but w h i c h n e v e r t h e l e s s b e n e f i t f r o m p l a n n i n g, g u i d a n c e and t u i t i o n of a t u t o r i a l o r g a n i s a t i o n ". B a s i s in t h i s d e f i n i t i o n a r e two e l e m e n t s b o t h of w h i c h be c o n s i d e r e d e s s e n t i a l, n a m e l y s - can the s e p a r a t i o n of t e a c h e r and l earner; and, - the p l a n n i n g of e d u c a t i o n a l o r g a n i s a t i o n. The s e p a r a t i o n of t e a c h e r a n d l e a r n e r is f u n d a m e n t a l to all f o r m s of d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n w h e t h e r they a r e p r i n t based or a u d i o - r a d i o based o r v i d e o / t e l e v i s i o n b a s e d or c o m p u t e r b a s e d etc. T h e s e p a r a tion d i f f e r e n t i a t e d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n f r o m all f o r m s of c o n v e n tional, f a c e - t o face, d i r e c t t e a c h i n g and l e a r n i n g. 5 On J u l y 1 2, , t h e F r e n c h G o v e r n m e n t p a s s e d a L a w r e g u l a t ing the c o n d u c t of d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n in i t s t e r r i t o r i e s. The d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n w a s d e f i n e d asi " e d u c a t i o n w h i c h e i t h e r d o e s n o t i m p l y the p h y s i c a l p r e s e n c e of a t e a c h e r or in w h i c h t e a c h e r is p r e s e n t o n l y on o c c a s i o n s or for s e l e c t e d t a s k s. "

4 38 A g a i n t w o e l e m e n t s a r e b a s i c t o t h i s d e f i n i t i o n, the, - s e p a r a t i o n o f t e a c h e r a n d l e a r n e r ) a n d p o s s i b i l i t y o f o c c a s i o n a l m e e t i n g b e t w e e n t e a c h e r a n d l e a r n e r. T h e M o o r e ' s, * d e f i n i t i o n h i g h l i g h t s t h r e e e l e m e n t s, n a m e l y : - - t h e s e p a r a t i o n o f t e a c h i n g b e h a v i o u r s a n d l e a r n i n g b e h a v i o u r s ; - t h e u s e o f t e c h n i c a l m e d i a - t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f t w o w a y c o m m u n i c a t i o n 5 T h i s a n a l y s i s s e p a r a t e s t e a c h e r i n t o t w o a r e a s! in n o r m a l f a c e t o f a c e t e a c h i n g t h e t e a c h e r s ' p r e p a r a t i o n i s d o n e a p a r t f r o m h i s l e a r n e r s a n d h e t e a c h e s in t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e l e a r n e r s. In d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n b o t h p r e p a r a t i o n a n d t e a c h i n g i s d o n e a p a r t f r o m t h e l e a r n e r s. It i s i m p o r t a n t t h a t s y s t e m s h o u l d a l l o w t w o w a y c o m m u n i c a t i o n P g R u l e F l i n c k, 0 d e f i n e d d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n a s a l e a r n i n g s y s t e m w h e r e t e a c h i n g b e h a v i o u r a r e s e p a r a t e f r o m l e a r n i n g b e h a v i o u r. T h e l e a r n e r w o r k s - a l o n e o r in a g r o u p - g u i d e d b y s t u d y m a t e r i a l, a r r a n g e d b y i n s t r u c t o r, w h o t o g e t h e r w i t h t u t o r s i s in a l o c a t i o n a p a r t f r o m t h e s t u d e n t s j w h o h o w e v e r, h a v e t h e o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h t u t o r / t u t o r s w i t h t h e a i d o f o n e o r m o r e m e d i a s u c h a s c o r r e s p o n d e n c e, t e l e p h o n e, t e l e v i s i o n, r a d i o. D i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n m a y b e c o m b i n e d w i t h v a r i o u s f o r m s o f f a c e t o f a c e m e e t i n g s. P e t e r s 9 d e f i n e s d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n a s a f o r m o f i n d i r e c t i n s t r u c t i o n. It i s i m p a r t e d b y t e c h n i c a l m e d i a s u c h a s c o r r e s p o n

5 89 d e n c e, p r i n t e d m a t e r i a l s, t e a c h i n g a n d l e a r n i n g a i d s r a d i o, t e l e v i s i o n a n d c o m p u t e r s. A g a i n b a s i c t o t h i s d e f i n i t i o n i s t h e s e p a r a t i o n o f t e a c h e r a n d t a u g h t a n d u s e o f t e c h n i c a l m e d i a. H e f u r t h e r s a y s t h a t d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n c a n b e s t b e u n d e r s t o o d f r o m i n d u s t r i a l p r i n c i p l e s o f p r o d u c t i v i t y d i v i s i o n o f l a b o u r a n d m a s s p r o d u c t i o n. T h e m e c h a n i s a t i o n a n d a u t o m a t i o n o f t e a c h i n g m e t h o d o l o g y a n d d e p e n d e n c e o f t e a c h i n g e f f e c t i v e n e s s o n p r i o r p l a n n i n g a n d o r g a n i s a t i o n, r a t h e r t h a n o n t e a c h i n g a b i l i t y. 10 P e t e r ' s a l s o 11 g i v e s c o m p r e h e n s i v e t e s t i n g o f o t h e r d e f i n i t i o n s o f d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n as: - a f r i n g e f o r m o f o r d i n a r y t e a c h i n g, - an i n s t i t u t i o n a l i s e d f o r m o f i n d i v i d u a l s t u d y, e d u c a t i o n t h r o u g h t e a c h i n g a i d s - e x p a n d e d f o r m o f t e a c h i n g b y c o r r e s p o n d e n c e, - s p e c i a l t y p e o f m a s s - e d u c a t i o n. T h e d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n i s t h u s b a s e d o n a n e w a c a d e m i c t h e o r y w h i c h i s q u i t e d i f f e r e n t t h a n t h e t r a d i t i o n a l t e a c h i n g. T h e d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n h a s i t s o w n l a w s, g r e a t t e a c h i n g p o t e n t i a l, a n d p r e s e n t s o p p o r t u n i t i e s a n d d a n g e r s t o b o t h t e a c h e r s a n d s t u d e n t s. A n y o n e, w h o i s p r o f e s s i o n a l l y i n v o l v e d w i t h e d u c a t i o n s h o u l d p r e s u m e t w o f o r m s o f e d u c a t i o n w h i c h a r e s t r i c t l y s e p a r a b l e : t r a d i t i o n a l e d u c a t i o n b a s e d o n p e r s o n a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n, f a c e to f a c e t e a c h i n g, a n d i n t e r a c t i o n a l e m o t i o n s a n d d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n b a s e d o n i n d u s t r a l i s e d a n d t e c h n o l o g i c a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n s m a i n

6 t a i n e d by e m o t i o n - f r e e l a n g u a g e, a n d n o t t h r o u g h p e r s o n a l i n s t r u c t i o n s. H o w e v e r A u s t r a l i a n E d u c a t i o n i s t s 12 w r i t e a b o u t b l u r r e d d e m a r c a t i o n b e t w e e n o n - c a m p u s a n d o f f - c a m p u s s t u d i e s. T h e y b e l i e v e t h a t e x t e r n a l s t u d i e s, o f f - c a m p u s s t u d i e s, o r d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n is n o m o r e t h a n a n m e t h o d o f t e a c h i n g. S i m i l a r l y o t h e r s b e l i e v e 1 '"*1 t h a t a t t h e c u l m i n a t i n g s t a g e s o f e d u c a t i o n t h e r e is l i t t l e d i s t r a c t i o n b e t w e e n t e a c h e r a n d t h e t a u g h t, t h e y a r e b o t h p a r t i c i p a t i n g in t h e s h a r e d e x p e r i e n c e o f e x p l o r i n g a c o m m o n w o r l d. T h e t e a c h e r i s s i m p l y m o r e f a m i l i a r w i t h i t s s k i l l s t h a n i t s s t u d e n t s. I n s p i t e o f a b o v e v i e w s, i t c a n b e s a i d t h a t O t t o - P e t e r h a s h i g h l i g h t e d t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n, a s t h e m o s t i n d u s t r i a l i s e d f o r m o f e d u c a t i o n. 1:2 N a t u r e o f d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n s D i s t a n c e t e a c h i n g i s a s e t o f t e c h n i q u e s o f t e a c h i n g a n d l e a r n i n g, w h i c h c a n b e a p p l i e d t o a n y s e t o f g o a l s a n d w h i c h e n a b l e l e a r n i n g t o t a k e p l a c e w h e r e t e a c h e r s a n d s t u d e n t s, a r e f o r m o s t p a r t, a t a d i s t a n c e f r o m e a c h o t h e r in s p a c e a n d t i m e. T h e r e a r e f i v e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f d i s t a n c e t e a c h i n g ; n a m e l y : i) In a t r a d i t i o n a l e d u c a t i o n, t e a c h e r t e a c h e s, i n a d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n, a n i n s t i t u t i o n t e a c h e s. In a t r a d i t i o n a l e d u c a t i o n, t e a c h e r i s p r e s e n t in a c l a s s r o o m w i t h h i s s t u d e n t s a n d h i s s u c c e s s o f t e n d e p e n d o n t h e r a p p o r t h e c a n b u i l t u p w i t h t h e s t u d e n t s. In d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n, t e a c h e r p r e p a r e s s t u d y m a t e r i a l

7 from w h i c h he h i m s e l f m a y n e v e r teach. A n o t h e r t e a c h e r m a y e v a l u a t e the m a t e r i a l, the d e s i g n ing and e x e c u t i o n of the s a m e may be a s s i g n e d to o t h e r s. T h e t e a c h i n g b e c o m e s i n s t i t u t i o n a l ized. ii) In d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n t h e g o a l s of linking of l e a r n i n g m a t e r i a l s to l e a r n i n g is at the c e n t r e of the o r g a n i s a t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e. In c o n v e n t i o n a l t e a c h i n g i n t e r s u b j e c t i v i t y is c e n t r e of t h e t e a c h i n g l e a r n i n g p r o c e s s is a u t o m a t i c a l l y s e t - u p. In d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n th i s i n t e r s u b j e c t i v i t y is lacking; i i i ) F r o m s t u d e n t ' s p o i n t of v i e w t h e r e are i m p o r t a n t d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n t h e t w o s y s t e m s of e d u c a t i o n. T h e d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n g i v e s a n e w m e a n i n g to t h e c o n c e p t of the i n d e p e n d e n t l e a r n i n g. In t h i s s y s t e m he is r e s p o n s i b l e for i n i t i a t i n g t h e l e a r n i n g s y s t e m, and for m a i n t a i n i n g it t h r o u g h o u t. iv) M a n a g e m e n t s k i l l s t h a t a r e m o r e a k i n to t h o s e f o u n d in i n d u s t r i a l i z e d e n t e r p r i s e s are h e a d e d in d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n. T h e B y s t e m i n v o l v e s, p l a n n i n g, p r i n t i n g, s c r i p t w r i t i n g, d e l i v e r y a n d d i s p a t c h a n d f i x i n g of d e a d lines, e d u c a t i o n a l p r i o r i t i e s etc. S u c h p r e o c c u p a t i o n s a r e n o t n o r m a l l y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of a c o n v e n t i o n a l m o d e of e d u c a t i o n.

8 172 v) D i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n is f o r m of e d u c a t i o n w h i c h is d e p e r s o n a l i z e d b o t h for staff and s t u d e n t s. T h e s t u d e n t s a r e not i n v i t e d to i n s t i t u t i o n s. T h e t e a c h e r s a r e i n v o l v e d in c o n s t a n t p r o c e s s of w r i t i n g c r e a t i v i t y for d i s t a n c e learners, e v a l u a t i o n of r e s p o n s e s, t e l e p h o n e c o u n s e l l i n g, work for R a d i o and t e l e v i s i o n etc. 1 s3 F o r m s of d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n s T h e d i f f e r e n t f o r m s of d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n can be i d e n t i f i e d by t h e i r u s e of t e c h n i c a l m e d i a as b a s i s of l e a r n i n g m a t e r i a l s. The f o r m of d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n can be P r i n t b a s e d, A u d i o based, V i d e o b a s e d or C o m p u t e r based. L e t u s a n a l y s e themi a )_P_rin t b a p e d s_i T h e m a j o r of d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m m e s a r e p r i n t - b a s e d. T h e t e a c h i n g b a s i s of t h e O p e n U n i v e r s i t y of the U n i t e d K i n g d o m, for e x a m p l e is 8 0 /. p r i n t basedj 107. b r o a d c a s t i n g and 107. f a c e to f a c e t e a c h i n g. In Indra G a n d h i O p e n U n i v e r s i t y, N e w D e l h i, a g a i n h a s 807. p r i n t basis, and 107. b r o a d c a s t i n g etc. T h e F o r t y N i n e (49) D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n C n t r e s, in c o n v e n t i o n a l U n i v e r s i t i e s a r e 907. p r i n t b a s e d a n d 107. f a c e to f a c e t e a c h i n g, d u r i n g the c o n t a c t p r o g r a m m e s. A real d i s s e r v i c e h a s b e e n d o n e to t h e f i e l d of d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n by o v e r e m p h a s i s on t e r m s like " U n i v e r s i t y of Air. The e d u c a t o r s, a d m i n i s t r a t o r s a n d p o l i t i c i a n s, n o t o n l y in d e v e l o p e d c o u n t r i e s, b u t a l s o in d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s w h e r e f i n a n c e s a r e a real c o n s t r a i n t, s h o u l d r e a l i z e t h a t vabt m a j o r i t y of d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n i n s t i t u t i o n s a r e p r i n t b a s e d and will r e m a i n so.

9 1:4 Audio-based Courses; In A u d i o - b a s e d c o u r s e s e d u c a t i o n c o n t e n t i s c a r r i e d by a u d i o - c a s s e t t e s. T h e s e a r e c o s t - e f f e c t i v e a n d c a n b e u s e d b y t h e p e o p l e w i t h l i t e r a c y p r o b l e m s a n d m a y b e a s u c c e s s f u l m e t h o d in t e a c h i n g o f l a n g u a g e s. T h e d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n c a n b e V i d e o - b a s e d t o o, w h e n t h e b a s i c e d u c a t i o n a l c o n t e n t of t h e c o u r s e i s b r o a d c a s t o n t e l e v i s i o n o r c o n t a i n e d o n V i d e o - c a s s e t t e s. S o m e p r i n t e d m a t e r i a l s c o n t a i n i n g b a c k g r o u n d, f u r t h e r r e a d i n g s a n d a s s e s s m e n t p r o c e d u r e s o f t e n a r e s u p p l e m e n t a r y, t o t h e c o u r s e. S e r i e s of T e l e v i s i o n p r o g r a m m e s h a v e a l r e a d y b e e n d e v e l o p e d b y n u m b e r of A m e r i c a n O p e n U n i v e r s i t i e s. S i m i l a r p r o g r a m m e s h a v e b e e n d e v e l o p e d b y t h e I G N O U a n d U G C in I n d i a b u t I n d i a n d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n s y s t e m i s s t i l l p r i n t - b a s e d. A v a r i a n t o f b o t h a u d i o a n d v i d e o b a s e d p r o g r a m m e s i s an e d u c a t i o n a l u s e o f S a t e l l i t e s. C o m p u t e r b a s e d a A c o m p u t e r c a n b e m e d i u m o n w h i c h e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m m e s t h a t f a l l w i t h i n t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n c a n b e b a s e d. A n u m b e r o f i n s t i t u t i o n s h a v e d e v e l o p e d c o m p u t e r b a s e d d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m m e s. E v e n in I n d i a, I G N O U h a s b e e n a l l o w e d t o d e v e l o p - c o m p u t e r b a s e d e d u c a t i o n a l p r o g r a m m e s S A d v a n t a g e s a n d W e a k n e s s o f D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n F o l l o w i n g a r e s o m e o f t h e a d v a n t a g e s o f d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n :

10 1- D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n w i t h D e m o c r a t i z a t i o n of E d u c a t i o n ; T h e D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n ib d e m o c r a t i c in c h a r a c t e r. T h e C o n v e n t i o n a l f o r m a l e d u c a t i o n h a s l i m i t a t i o n s, b e c a u s e of r i g i d n e s s in a d m i s s i o n s, a t t e n d a n c e in t h e c a m p u s, l i m i t e d i n t a k e c a p a c i t y o f t h e I n s t i t u t i o n s, h i g h e r e x p e n d i t u r e, a n d l i m i t e d a c c e s s a n d e q u i t y. D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n i s f l e x i b l e, a n d e x t e n d s i t s a c c e s s t o s o c i a l l y a n d e c o n o m i c a l l y d i s a d v a n t a g e d i n d i v i d u a l s w h o c a n n o t a t t e n d t h e f o r m a l e d u c a t i o n i n s t i t u t i o n s, e m p l o y e d a n d w o r k i n g p e o p l e, f o r p r o f e s s i o n a l u p d a t i n g o r p e r s o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t e t c. S o m o d e o f D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n c a n b e u s e d t o p r o v i d e e d u c a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s, w h o f o r v a r i e t y of r e a s o n s, w e r e u n a b l e to a t t e n d C o n v e n t i o n a l I n s t i t u t i o n s 1 5. In t h e c a s e o f c o u n t r i e s l i k e P a k i s t a n, T h a i l a n d a n d l a r g e n u m b e r o f t h i r d w o r k c o u n t r i e s s o c i a l l y a n d e c o n o m i c a l l y d e p r i v e d c a n d i d a t e s h a v e b e e n p r o v i d e d t h i s a c c e s s t h r o u g h D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n. C o u n t r i e s l i k e A u s t r a l i a C a n a d a a n d N e w Z e a l a n d u s e d to p r o v i d e e d u c a t i o n t h r o u g h t h i s m o d e t o g e o g r a p h i c a l l y i s o l a t e d p e o p l e. T h e N e w P o l i c y o n E d u c a t i o n, , o f I n d i a, s p e c i f i e s t h e n e e d f o r D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n f r o m t h e p o i n t of v i e w o f m e e t i n g e d u c a t i o n a l r e q u i r e m e n t s o f s o c i a l l y a n d e d u c a t i o n a l l y d i s a d v a n t a g e d g r o u p s. T h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f I G N O U a n d o t h e r O p e n U n i v e r s i t i e s, h a v e c o m m i t m e n t s o n t h e a b o v e l i n e s D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n & l i f e long E d u c a t i o n l D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n e n c o u r a g e s l i f e l o n g e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m m e s b y m e a n s o f p r o v i d i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r c o n t i n u i n g p r o f e s s i o n a l e d u c a t i o n a n d e x t e n s i o n e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m m e s in a w i d e r a n g e. E d u c a t i o n d o e s n o t e n d a t t h e c o m p l e t i o n o f a d e g r e e o r c e r t i f i

11 1C 5 c a t e o r i e n t e d c o u r s e. B e c a u s e of t h e e x p l o s i o n of k n o w l e d g e a n d a d v a n c e m e n t o f t e c h n o l o g y t h e i n d i v i d u a l s, e s p e c i a l l y e m p l o y e d in p r o f e s s i o n a l a n d t e c h n i c a l j o b s m u s t u p d a t e t h e i r k n o w l e d g e a n d s k i l l f r o m t i m e t o t i m e.d i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n i s t h e o n l y m e d i u m w h i c h p r o v i d e s f o r u p g r a d a t i o n o f t h e k n o w l e d g e a n d s k i l l s w i t h o u t d i s t u r b i n g t h e o n - g o i n g s o c i a l a n d e c o n o m i c a c t i v i t i e s o f w o r k i n g a d u l t s, w h i l e in t h e j o b e s p e c i a l l y in t h e i r w o r k i n g p l a c e. T h e d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n is b o t h c o s t b e n e f i t o r i e n t e d a n d c o s t a l s o e f f e c t i v e. 3. D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n w i t h p e r s p e c t i v e of 'Second Chance' E d u c a t i o n r T h e ' S e c o n d C h a n c e ' E d u c a t i o n c a n b e e a s i l y p r o v i d e d t h r o u g h D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n. T h e r e a r e l a r g e n u m b e r o f l e a r n e r s w h o a r e a c a d e m i c a l l y c a p a b l e, b u t f o r d i f f e r e n t r e a s o n s d r o p s t u d i e s o r c a n n o t c o m p l e t e t h e i r c o u r s e s. T h e O p e n U n i v e r s i t i e s a n d o t h e r f o r m s o f D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n I n s t i t u t i o n s g i v e " S e c o n d c h a n c e " f o r h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n, t h i s i s n o t p r a c t i c a l l y p o s s i b l e t h r o u g h a C o n v e n t i o n a l S y s t e m. 4. D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n s i s L e a r n e r O r i e n t e d a T h e D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n s h a s p r o v i d e d e d u c a t i o n a l a d v a n t a g e s t o s t u d e n t s b e l o n g i n g t o u p p e r a g e g r o u p, e m p l o y e d p e r s o n s, s t u d e n t s, m a t u r e d p e r s o n, h o u s e w i v e s e t c. T h e s t u d e n t s p r e f e r d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n c o u r s e s f o r p a u c i t y o f t i m e, a n d l e a r n i n g i n d e p e n d e n t l y w i t h t h e h e l p o f s e l f l e a r n i n g i n s t r u c t i o n a l p a c k a g e s. In t h i s w a y t h e y d e v e l o p i n d e p e n d e n t l e a r n i n g s k i l l s, p e r s o n a l r e s o u r c e f u l n e s s a n d t i m e m a n a g e m e n t s k i l l s. T h e s e e x p e r i e n c e s a r e

12 v e r y u s e f u l in s p h e r e s o f p e r s o n a l, s o c i a l a n d e c o n o m i c a c t i v i t i e s. T h e D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n is t h u s l e a r n e r s o r i e n t e d e d u c a t i o n. 5. D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n f r o m T e a c h e r ' s P e r s p e c t i v e : In D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n, t h e c o n c e p t o f " T e a c h e r " a n d " T e a c h i n g " h a v e b e e n p e r c e i v e d a s a d i f f e r e n t p e r s p e c t i v e. T h i s s y s t e m is n o t " t e a c h e r " O r i e n t e d. B u t it p r o v i d e s a m p l e s c o p e f o r t h e ' t e a c h e r s ' t o p r o d u c e h i g h q u a l i t y s t u d y m a t e r i a l s, i n t e r a c t w i t h o t h e r s u b j e c t - e x p e r t s, m e d i a a n d e d u c a t i o n a l t e c h n o l o g y e x p e r t s, p r i n t e x p e r t s, d e s i g n e r s, t o s h a r e t h e I n s t r u c t i o n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s, a n d t o r e c e i v e o b j e c t i v e f e e d b a c k s, f o r i m p r o v e m e n t s in m o d i f y i n g o w n a c t i v i t i e s. B u t t h e ' t e a c h i n g ' j o b in d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n e s p e c i a l l y in d u a l m o d e c o n v e n t i o n a l U n i v e r s i t i e s h a v e n o t b e e n a t t r a c t i v e, in c o m p a r i s o n to t h e i r c o u n t e r p a r t s in c o n v e n t i o n a l s y s t e m,. M o s t o f t h e t e a c h e r s f e e l i s o l a t e d w i t h r e g a r d to p e r s o n a l c o n t a c t s w i t h s t u d e n t s a n d p e r c e i v e t h e i r p o s i t i o n v e r y m u c h d e j e c t e d. d T h i s i s b e c a u s e of l a c k o f c o r r e c t i v e per s p e c t i v e o f t o t a l i n s t r u c t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n S y s t e m D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n i s C o s t E f f e c t i v e ; T h e D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n i s c o s t - e f f e c t i v e a n d c h e a p a s c o m p a r e d t o t h e t r a d i t i o n a l f o r m a l e d u c a t i o n. T h e c o s t - e f f e c t i v e n e s s of D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n d e p e n d o n v a r i e t y o f f a c t s i. e. n a t u r e of c o u r s e s, c h o i c e o f m e d i a, r a n g e o f s t u d e n t s u p p o r t s e r v i c e s, u t i l i z a t i o n o f p h y s i c a l a n d m a n - p o w e r r e s o u r c e s e t c. A l t h o u g h t h e i n i t i a l c o s t s o f d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n i s h i g h e r t h a n t h o s e o f r e g u l a r c o u r s e s, b u t s u b s e q u e n t l y c o s t s a r e r e l a t i v e l y l e s s.

13 T h e D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n h a s e s t a b l i s h e d i t s c r e d i b i l i t y a s an a c a d e m i c a l l y v i a b l e, a n d c o s t - e f f e c t i v e a l t e r n a t i v e c h a n n e l f o r i m p a r t i n g e d u c a t i o n w i t h c o n s i d e r a b l e i m p r o v e m e n t in t h e q u a l i t y o f t e a c h i n g m a t e r i a l s, s u p p o r t s e r v i c e s a n d i n t e g r a t i o n of n e w t e c h n o l o g i e s. It h a s t h e p o t e n t i a l o f e x t e n d i n g a n d e q u a l i s i n g e d u c a t i o n o p p o r t u n i t i e s a n d t a k i n g e d u c a t i o n t o t h e d o o r s t e p s of t h e n e g l e c t e d s e g m e n t s o f p o p u l a t i o n. It s e r v e s a d u l t s, d r o p o u t s, e m p l o y e d, w o r k e r s, h o u s e w i v e s e t c., a n d c a n p r o v i d e e d u c a t i o n a t a l l l e v e l s a n d t o v a r i e d c l i e n t e l e. T h i s s y s t e m is l e a r n e r o r i e n t e d a n d t h e r e f o r e c a p a b l e o f m a k i n g l e a r n e r m o r e s e l f r e l i a n t a n d c o n f i d e n t, a n d, a l l o w s m o r e f l e x i b i l i t y t o t h e l e a r n e r s w i t h r e g a r d t o c h o i c e of s t u d y, c o m p l e t i o n t i m e. T h e D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n h a s b e e n u n d e r g o i n g a c o n t i n u o u s e v o l u t i o n i n r e s p o n s e t o e d u c a t i o n a l n e e d s o f t h e s o c i e t y, a n d t h e e x p e c t a t i o n s o f t h e l e a r n e r s. T h e e x p l o s i o n in t h e f i e l d of e d u c a t i o n a l t e c h n o l o g y h a s l e d t o t h e i n t e g r a t i o n o f n e w t y p e s of d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n i n s t i t u t i o n s s u c h a s T e l e - U n i v e r s i t y, U n i v e r s i t i e s in A i r, R a d i o U n i v e r s i t i e s, a n d O p e n U n i v e r s i t i e s. It is d e v e l o p i n g i n t o a n o p e n s y s t e m o f e d u c a t i o n w h i c h i s o p e n t o all i r r e s p e c t i v e o f a g e, f o r m a l e n t r y q u a l i f i c a t i o n, p l a c e o f r e s i d e n c e, s e x, p a c e o f l e a r n i n g o r c o m p l e t i o n o f t i m e. F u r t h e r t h e a c t i v e r e g i o n a l, n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l l e v e l r a p p o r t a n d c o l l a b o r a t i o n a m o n g d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n i n s t i t u t e s l e a d t o s i g n i f i c a n t c o l l e c t i v e t h i n k i n g a n d s u s t a i n e d e f f o r t s in f u r t h e r i m p r o v e m e n t in t h e r a n g e o f c o u r s e, t e a c h i n g l e a r n i n g m e t h o d o l o g i e s, u s e o f m e d i a e t c. T h e D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n h a s t o e v o l v e a a l t e r n a t i v e k i n d o f e d u c a t i o n o r c u r r i c u l u m r a t h e r t h a n i m p a r t t h e c o n v e n t i o n al t y p e o f e d u c a t i o n t h r o u g h a n a l t e r n a t i v e c h a n n e l s. T h e D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n i s e m e r g i n g a s a d i s t i n c t d i s c i p l i n e in i t s o w n r i g h t.

14 ICS 11 D e v e l o p m e n t a n d G r o w t h of D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n. T h e d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n, w a s b o r n o u t o f p r e s s i n g s o c i a l c o m p u l s i o n, d y n a m i c s o f c h a n g e a n d n e w c u l t u r e. It i n d i c a t e s a h e a l t h y e v o l u t i o n in t h e f i e l d o f e d u c a t i o n, a r e v o l u t i o n a r y b r e a k t h r o u g h, t o t h e c e n t u r i e s o l d f o r m a l f a c e t o f a c e t e a c h i n g s y s t e m l e a d i n g t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f an i n n o v a t i v e m u l t i - m e d i a t e a c h i n g l e a r n i n g s y s t e m. T h e w i d e - s p r e a d a c c e p t a n c e o f c o r e s p o n d e n c e c o u r s e s p r o m o t e d s o m e i m a g i n a t i v e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e e d u c a t o r s t o o r g a n i s e an i n n o v a t i v e f o r m f o r t h i s n e w s y s t e m o f e d u c a t i o n. T h u s I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o u n c i l o f C o r r e s p o n d e n c e E d u c a t i o n ( I C C E ) w a s e s t a b l i s h e d in T h e f i r s t C o n f e r e n c e o f t h i s C o u n c i l w a s h e l d in V i c t o r i a, B. C. in A u g u s t , a n d 88 d e l e g a t e s m o B t l y f r o m U S A a n d C a n a d a a t t e n d e d t h e C o n f e r e n c e. T h e S e c o n d W o r l d W a r d e l a y e d t h e s e c o n d I C C E C o n f e r e n c e w h i c h w a s u l t i m a t e l y h e l d in D r. B o a d y w a s e l e c t e d t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e I C C E. F r o m t o , f e w m o r e C o n f e r e n c e w e r e h e l d in U S A, F r a n c e, N e w Z e a l a n d e t c. In N e w D e l h i C o n f e r e n c e w a s a t t e n d e d b y d e l e g a t e s f r o m 4 0 c o u n t r i e s a n d P r o f e s s o r B a k h i s h S i n g h w a s e l e c t e d a s t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e C o u n c i l. In a n d t h e m e m b e r s h i p o f t h e C o u n c i l s h o o t u p to i n s t i t u t i o n a l a n d 4 5 i n d i v i d u a l. T h e p e r i o d b e t w e e n to h a s b e e n m o s t p r o g r e s s i v e p e r i o d f o r d e v e l o p m e n t a n d c r e d i b i l i t y o f d i s t a n c e - e d u c a t i o n. T h i s p e r i o d m a r k s, t h e r e a l i z a t i o n a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f r e s e a r c h o n v a r i o u s a s p e c t s o f d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n ) p u b l i c a t i o n o f b o o k s, s u r v e y s, j o u r n a l s, p a p e r s, o n d i s t a n c e l e a r n i n g j e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f r e g i o n a l a n d n a t i o n a l a s s o c i a t i o n s o f d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n. D u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n c u l m i

15 n a t e d in e s t a b l i s h m e n t of U n i v e r s i t i e s in A I R, T e l e U n i v e r s i t i e s, O p e n U n i v e r s i t i e s, w i t h i n t e g r a t i o n o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n t e c h n o l o g y. T h i s d e v e l o p m e n t r e s u l t e d i n t o w i d e s p r e a d a c c e p t a n c e a n d c r e d i b i l i t y o f d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n s y s t e m. W i t h t h i s b a c k g r o u n d l e t u s n o w h a v e s o m e g l i m p s e of i m p o r t a n t d e v e l o p m e n t s in d i f f e r e n t r e g i o n s of E u r o p e, A s i a a n d P a c i f i c. Is2sl E n g l a n d : T h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of t h e O p e n U n i v e r s i t y a t M i l o n K e y n e s, In E n g l a n d in t u r n e d o u t t o b e a s i g n i f i c a n t m i l e s t o n e in t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n. T h i s U n i v e r s i t y h a s c r e a t e d w o r l d - w i d e i m p a c t by p r o d u c t i o n of e f f e c t i v e c o u r s e m a t e r i a l s f o r a l l k i n d s o f p e o p l e i r r e s p e c t i v e o f a g e, s e x, p l a c e o f r e s i d e n c e, a n d f o r m a l q u a l i f i c a t i o n. In o v e r l a k h s t u d e n t s h a v e e n r o l l e d in t h e O p e n U n i v e r s i t y o f E n g l a n d. D u r i n g l a t e e i g h t i e s t h e e n r o l l m e n t w a s I l a k h p e r y e a r a t u n d e r - g r a d u a t e l e v e l. 1 8 T h e c o u r s e, a n d q u a l i t y o f e d u c a t i o n o f O U U K a t t r a c t e d a t t e n t i o n of s o m e A m e r i c a n U n i v e r s i t i e s, a n d t h e s e U n i v e r s i t i e s o f f e r e d s e l e c t e d B r i t i s h O U c o u r s e s t o t h e i r s t u d e n t s. T h i s w a s a l s o a c c e p t e d by C a n a d a. T h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l E x t e n s i o n C o l l e g e IEC, C a m b r i d g e, is a n o t h e r w e l l k n o w n D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n I n s t i t u t i o n, w h i c h in a d d i - t o n o f o f f e r i n g d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n c o u r s e p r o v i d e s c o n s u l t a n c y a n d e x p e r t i s e t o s o m e d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s, p a r t i c u l a r l y in A f r i c a, f o r o r g a n i s i n g d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n i n s t i t u t i o n s. I»2s3 F r a n c a a In F r a n c e, U n i v e r s i t y t e a c h i n g a t d i s t a n c e w a s o r i g i n a l l y d e s i g n e d f o r i n i t i a l t r a i n i n g t o u p - g r a d e t e a c h e r s. E i g h t e e n

16 Ill) U n i v e r s i t i e s w e r e r e n a m e d R a d i o U n i v e r s i t i e s. T h e C e n t r e s d e T e l e - E n s e i g n m e n t U n i v e r s i t a i r e p r o v i d e U n i v e r s i t y l e v e l c o u r s e of 2, 3 a n d 4 y e a r s d u r a t i o n. T h e R a d i o a n d T V p r o g r r a m m e s a r e f u l l y u t i l i z e d f o r t h e e d u c a t i o n p u r p o s e s. B e s i d e s t h e r e a r e n u m b e r of p r i v a t e c o r r e s p o n d e n e e i n s t i t u t i o n s w h i c h p r e p a r e s t u d e n t s f o r v a r i o u s s c h o o l s, U n i v e r s i t y a n d o t h e r e x a m i n a t i o n s. 1:2:4 N e t h e r l a n d s : H a v i n g c o n s i d e r e d w h a t t h e a d u l t p o p u l a t i o n n e e d s in t h e a r e a o f h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n. T h e D u t c h G o v e r n m e n t t o o k a p o l i c y d e c i s i o n in t o m a k e f l e x i b l e a n d d i v e r s i f i e d h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n a v a i l a b l e t o p e o p l e. T h e N e t h e r l a n d O p e n U n i v e r s i t y w a s e s t a b l i s h e d in w i t h a n e t w o r k o f 1 8 S t u d y C e n t e r s. T h e U n i v e r s i t y p l a n n e d c o u r s e s in b a s i c e d u c a t i o n, law, c u l t u r a l s c i e n c e, n a t u r a l s c i e n c e s, s o c i a l s c i e n c e s, m a r k e t i n g e t c. T h e s t u d e n t s w e r e e n r o l l e d f o r c o u r s e s a n d n o t f o r d e g r e e ' s o r d i p l o m a s. 1 : 2 : 9 Spain: In S p a i n, d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n r e c e i v e d a b i g b o o s t b y e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f N a t i o n a l D e E d u c a t i o n A d i s t a n c i a ( U N E D ) in T h e s p e c i f i c a i m o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y i s t o w i d e n t h e a c c e s s t o h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n f o r d i s a d v a n t a g e d s o c i a l g r o u p s. T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f f e r s t h r e e a c a d e m i c p r o g r a m m e, a) a d m i s s i o n c o u r s e b ) D e g r e e C o u r s e s a n d i n s e r v i c e t r a i n i n g c o u r s e s, it a l s o p r o v i d e d f a c i l i t i e s f o r r e s e a r c h s t u d i e s. T h e U n i v e r s i t y h a s a l s o e s t a b l i s h e d a n E d u c a t i o n a l S c i e n c e I n s t i t u t e f o r d o i n g i n s t i t u t i o n a l r e s e a r c h c o n c e r n i n g i t s e d u c a t i o n a l s y s t e m.

17 Ill T h e s i m i l a r i n s t i t u t i o n s w e r e o p e n e d in G e r m a n y, S w e d e n, U S S R a n d o t h e r E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s. 1 s2r6 Africa: In most, o f t h e c o u n t r i e s, in A f r i c a n r e g i o n t h e e d u c a t i o n a l l e v e l i s v e r y low. T h e p o p u l a t i o n i s f a i r l y l a r g e. S o m e of t h e c o u n t r i e s in t h e r e g i o n d e c i d e d t o m a k e p r i m a r y e d u c a t i o n c o m p u l s o r y a n d i m p r o v e t h e o v e r a l l e d u c a t i o n a l l e v e l o f t h e p e o p l e. B u t to e m p l o y l a r g e n u m b e r of t e a c h e r s in s c h o o l s, t h e y r e q u i r e d l a r g e n u m b e r o f t r a i n e d t e a c h e r s. T h e r e f o r e in n u m b e r o f c o u n t r i e s l i k e N i g e r i a, T a n z a n i a K e n y a, B o t s o w a n a, L e s o t h o, E t h i o p i a a n d o t h e r s, o r g a n i s e d d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n c o u r s e s f o r t h e t r a i n i n g of t e a c h e r s. T h e c o u r s e s p r i m a r i l y c o m p r i s e d s e l f - i n s t r u c t i o n a l m a t e r i a l, s u p p l e m e n t e d b y R a d i o a n d T e l e v i s o n p r o g r a m m e s a n d f a c e t o f a c e s e s s i o n s o r c o n t a c t p r o g r a m m e s. T h e f i r s t C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o l l e g e in A f r i c a w a s s e t - u p in B r a z z a v i l l e in A t p r e s e n t t h e r e a r e 3 6 I n s t i t u t i o n s u s i n g t h e d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n s y s t e m. S o m e c o u n t r i e s w e r e a b l e t o s e c u r e t e c h n i c a l s u p p o r t f r o m U N E S C O a n d v a r i o u s o t h e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l 1 a g e n c i e s. L a t e r d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n i n s t i t u t i o n s w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d i n B o t s w a n a, L e s o t h o a n d S w a z i l a n d. T h e E d u c a t i o n a l R e s e a r c h C e n t r e ( E C R ) f o r r e f u g e e s f r o m S o u t h A f r i c a a n d Z a m b a e b e a d o p t e d d i s t a n c e t e a c h i n g m e t h o d o l o g y in f o r p r e p a r i n g r e f u g e e s of G E C e x a m i n a t i o n. U n i t e d N a t i o n E c o n o m i c C o m m i s s i o n f o r A s i a, B e r m a n F o u n d a t i o n f o r I n t e r n a t i o n a l D e v e l o p m e n t ( D S E ) D a g H a m - m e r s k j o l d F o u n d a t i o n o f S w e d e n, h a v e b e e n p r o v i d i n g s p e c i a l a s s i s t a n c e t o t h e A f r i c a n c o u n t r i e s f o r o r g a n i s i n g a n d p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n f e r e n c e s, s e m i n a r s e t c in d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n. B e s i d e s s o m e C o n v e n t i o n a l U n i v e r s i t i e s t o o h a v e o p e n e d d i s t a n c e

18 112 e d u c a t i o n c e n t r e s a n d p r o v i d e v a r i e t y of c o u r s e s t h r o u g h m o d e of e d u c a t i o n. d i s t a n c e 1 :2s7 ftsia In A s i a t h e r e h a s b e e n p h e n o m e n a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n p a r t i c u l a r l y in I n d i a, P a k i s t a n T h a i l a n d, S r i - L a n k a, C h i n a, S o u t h K o r e a, I n d o n e s i a a n d J a p a n. M o s t o f t h e s e c o u n t r i e s h a v e a d o p t e d l a t e s t i n n o v a t i o n s in d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n a n d e s t a b l i s h e d O p e n U n i v e r s i t i e s. li 2 s B B a n g l a d e s h B e i n g c o n v i n c e d o f t h e r e l e v a n c e of d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n s y s t e m t o t h e e d u c a t i o n n e e d s o f B a n g l a d e s h, w h i c h i s o n e of t h e m o s t d e n s e l y p o p u l a t e d a r e a o f t h e w o r l d, t h e G o v e r n m e n t of B a n g l a d e s h h a s B a n g l a d e s h I n s t i t u t e of D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n ( B I D E ) u n d e r t h e M i n i s t r y of E d u c a t i o n. S o m e o f t h e i m p o r t a n t p r o g r a m m e s l a u n c h e d b y t h e B I D E a r e t i) b a c h l o r ' s e d u c a t i o n f o r in s e r v i c e - t e a c h e r s ; ii) r a d i o b r o a d c a s t s a n d v i d e o f o r s c h o o l t e a c h e r s ; iii) s u p p o r t t o p r i m a r y t e a c h e r s t r a i n i n g i n s t i t u t e s ; iv) p r i m a r y e d u c a t i o n f o r p r e - s e r v i c e a n d i n - s e r v i c e t r a i n i n g of p r i m a r y s c h o o l s. T h e I n s t i t u t e i s t h e f i r s t s t e p t o w a r d s t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f O p e n U n i v e r s i t y in f u t u r e.

19 1:2i9 China T h e C e n t r a l R a d i o a n d T e l e v i s i o n U n i v e r s i t y ( C R T U ) w a s e s t a b l i s h e d in It i s p o p u l a r l y k n o w n a s D I A N D A. It c o n s i s t s o f 2 8 p r o v i s i o n a l T V U n i v e r s i t i e s. E a c h p r o v i s i o n a l T V U n i v e r s i t y h a v e n u m b e r o f b r a n c h s c h o o l s l o c a t e d in b i g c i t i e s o f C h i n a. T h e y f u n c t i o n t h r o u g h c o o r d i n a t i o n of t h r e e l e v e l T V C h a n n e l s v i z. N a t i o n a l, P r o v i n c i a l a n d M u n i c i p a l l e v e l s. P e r s o n a l c o n t a c t c l a s s e s a r e o r g a n i s e d at g r o s s r o o t l e v e l w i t h l o c a l p a r t - t i m e t e a c h e r s. T h e C R T U h a s f u l l - t i m e t e a c h e r s. T h e e n r o l m e n t o f s t u d e n t s in C R T U is m o r e t h a n 6 L a k h s a n d h a s c o v e r a g e o f m o r e t h a n 8 l a k h v i e w e r s. T h e c o u r s e s o f f e r e d i n c l u d e l a n g u a g e a n d l i t e r a t u r e, s o c i a l s c i e n c e s, l a w a n d j o u r n a l ism, t e a c h e r s e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m m e s, a g r i c u l t u r e a n d t e c h n o l o g y e t c. T h e i n s t r u c t i o n a l s y s t e m i n c l u d e t e l e c a s t of c l a s s r o o m b a s e d l e c t u r e s r a d i o - p r o g r a m m e s a n d w r i t t e n a n d f a c e t o f a c e t u i t i o n. D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n in C h i n a i s a l s o o f f e r e d b y C o r e s p o n d e n c e D e p a r t m e n t s o f C o n v e n t i o n a l U n i v e r s i t i e s a n d i n d e p e n d e n t C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o l l e g e s. T h e y o f f e r u n d e r g r a d u a t e d e g r e e, d i p l o m a c o u r s e s, t r a i n i n g c o u r s e s e t c. In , N a t i o n a l O p e n U n i v e r s i t y w a s e s t a b l i s h e d in C h i n a. It b e g a n t e l e v i s i n g t h e c o u r s e s d u r i n g N o v e m b e r, T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f f e r s c o u r s e s in S c i e n c e, S o c i a l S c i e n c e, L a n g u a g e a n d M a n a g e m e n t. d T h e a n n u a l i n t a k e c a p a c i t y o f t h e o p e n U n i v e r s i t y is o n e l a k h. T h e i n s t r u c t i o n a l s y s t e m o f ( N O U C ) i n c l u d e s m u l t i - m e d i a a p p r o v a l o f T V, R a d i o, p r i n t e d m a t e r i a l s a n d c l a s s r o o m i n s t r u c t i o n s. T h e r e a r e a l s o a n e t w o r k o f l e a r n i n g c e n t r e s in t h e c o u n - t r y 2 0.

20 114 1:2s10 Japan In J a p a n, s c h o o l s t a g e, e d u c a t i o n is o f f e r e d t h r o u g h H i g h S c h o o l C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s. T h e r e a r e a b o u t 8 4 H i g h S c h o o l s o f f e r i n g c o u r s e s t h r o u g h c o r r e s p o n d e n c e. In o n e B r o a d c a s t a n d C o r r e s p o n d e n c e H i g h S c h o o l w a s e s t a b l i s h e d. T h e s e i n s t i t u t i o n s a r e e n t i t l e d t o i s s u e c e r t i f i c a t e s. A t t h e t e r t i a r y s t a g e t h e r e i s a h i s t o r y o f y e a r s. In t h e i n i t i a l s t a g e t h e C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s w e r e r u n in p r i v a t e c o l l e g e s. T h e r e a r e d i f f e r e n t c a t e g o r i e s o f C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s i.e. D e g r e e c o u r s e s, P r o v i s i o n a l e n t r y s y s t e m, p i e c e w o r k s t u d y s y s t e m, a n d A u d i t S y s t e m f o r t e a c h e r s t r a i n i n g. In , t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f A i r w a s e s t a b l i s h e d. T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f f e r s t o t a l o f c o u r s e s. T h e s t u d e n t s o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y a r e c l a s s i f i e d i n t o f o u r c a t e g o r i e s i. e. r e g u l a r s t u d e n t s, n o n d e g r e e s t u d e n t s, n o n - d e g r e e s t u d e n t s e n r o l l e d o n l y f o r o n e s e m e s t e r in a p a r t i c u l a r a r e a s, a n d s p e c i a l s t u d e n t s. T h e s y s t e m of s t u d y c o m p r i s e l e c t u r e s o n R a d i o a n d TV, t e x t b o o k s, g u i d a n c e by c o r r e s p o n d e n c e a n d in s o m e c a s e s, f a c e t o f a c e i n s t r u c t i o n s at. s t u d y c e n t r e s. C l a s s - r o o m l e c c t u r e s a r e o r g a n i z e d in S t u d y C e n t r e s. It i s e s t i m a t e d t h a t 6. 2 l a k h p e o p l e w o u l d s t u d y t h r o u g h t h i s s y s t e m. l:2tll Pakistan T h e A l l a m a I q b a l O p e n U n i v e r s i t y ( A I 0 U ) w a s s e t u p in , p r o v i d i n g c o n t i n u i n g a n d h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n c o u r s e s t o o v e r 1 l a k h s t u d e n t s a n n u a l l y t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y. T h e t a r g e t g r o u p o f t h e

21 115 U n i v e r s i t y i n c l u d e i n s e r v i c e p e r s o n n e l, h o u s e w i v e s, a n d o t h e r w o r k i n g a d u l t s. T h e a d m i s s i o n i s t o t a l l y o p e n. T h e i n s t r u c t i o n a l m e c h a n i s m i n c l u d e s c o r e s p o n d e n c e m a t e r i als, r a d i o, T V, t u i t i o n a l s e s s i o n s, a n d o t h e r t e c h n i q u e s. T h e r e a r e r e g i o n a l S t u d y C e n t r e s a n d L o c a l S t u d y C e n t r e s in a d d i t i o n t o C e n t r a l H e a d q u a r t e r s. T h e S t u d y C e n t r e s a r e e q u i p p e d w i t h R a d i o, T V a n d A u d i o - v i d e o f a c i l i t i e s. I s 2! l 2 S r i L a n k a T h e O p e n U n i v e r s i t y o f S r i l a n k a w a s e s t a b l i s h e d in , w i t h t h e o b j e c t i v e o f u p - g r a d i n g t h e a c a d e m i c q u a l i t y o f t h o s e w h o a r e e m p l o y e d, t o p r o v i d e a l t e r n a t i v e a v e n u e s of h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n t o s t u d e n t s. T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f f e r s a v a r i e t y o f p r o g r a m m e s l e a d i n g t o C e r t i f i c a t e, D i p l o m a, D e g r e e a n d p o s t - g r a d u a t e l e v e l c o u r s e s. E v e n r e s e a r c h i s a l s o c o n d u c t e d t h r o u g h O p e n U n i v e r s i t y. T h e O p e n U n i v e r s i t y a d o p t s m u l t i - m e d i a, s t u d y s y s t e m d e v e l o p e d by o t h e r U n i v e r s i t i e s, w i t h s o m e m o d i f i c a t i o n. It i n c l u d e s p r i n t b a s e d l e s s o n s, A u d i o - V i d e o c a s s e t t e s, r a d i o ft T V B r o a d c a s t s / t e l e c a s t s. T h e U n i v e r s i t y h a s s e t u p 1 4 R e g i o n a l C e n t r e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y. B e s i d e s t e a c h e r s e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m m e s o f S r i l a n k a h a s b e e n t a k e n in a b i g w a y. T h e t r a i n i n g i s i m p a r t e d t o t h e i n s e r v i c e - t e a c h e r s e s p e c i a l l y i n t e a c h i n g o f M a t h e m a t i c s, t e a c h i n g o f s c i e n c e e t c.

22 T h e S r i L a n k a G o v e r n m e n t h a s c l o s e c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h S w e d i s h I n t e r n a t i o n a l D e v e l o p m e n t A g e n c y, f o r t h e i r d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m m e. 1 i2r13 T h a i l a n d S u k h o t h a i T h a m m a t h i r a l O p e n U n i v e r s i t y T h a i l a n d ( S T O U ), h a s a d i s t i n c t i o n o f t h e l a r g e s t e n r o l m e n t in t h e w o r l d w i t h o v e r 3 l a k h s t u d e n t s o n i t s r o l l s. It w a s e s t a b l i s h e d in a n d i s n o w h o u s e d in g r a n d a n d s p a c i o u s c o m p l e x. T h i s U n i v e r s i t y p r o v i d e s t h r e e k i n d s o f c o u r s e s n a m e l y s - t r a i n i n g r e s o u r c e s f o r s e v e r a l G o v e r n m e n t A g e n c i e s f o r p e r s o n n e l d e v e l o p m e n t, a n d n e w t e a c h i n g p r o g r a m m e s l i k e a g r i c u l t u r e, c o o p e r a t i v e s, h e a l t h, m a n a g e m e n t, a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n e t c. T h e U n i v e r s i t y h a s o v e r B 4 R e g i o n a l a n d L o c a l S t u d y C e n t r e s all o v e r t h e c o u n t r y, b e s i d e s, S T O U, l i b r a r y. l t h a s s e t - u p P u b l i c L i b r a r i e s in a l l t h e 7 3 P r o v i n c e s in T h a i l a n d. I s 2 i l 4 K o r e a (South) T h e S e o u l N a t i o n a l U n i v e r s i t y e s t a b l i s h e d t h e D e p a r t m e n t of C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s in , o f f e r i n g j u n i o r c o l l e g e l e v e l c o u r s e s. In , t h e D e p a r t m e n t w a s e l e v a t e d t o t h e s t a t u s o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y - t h e K o r e a A i r a n d C o r r e s p o n d e n c e U n i v e r s i t y. W i t h i n t w o y e a r s i t p r o d u c e d 1 4 d i v e r s e p r o g r a m m e s. T h e e n r o l m e n t in t u r n s h o t u p t o 4 8, in a n d 1, 5 4, in O f t h e t o t a l e n r o l m e n t a b o u t 80'/. a r e i n - s e r v i c e p e o p l e.

23 117 Is2sl5 Indonesia D e s p i t e t h e c o n s i d e r a b l e e x p a n s i o n in t h e f o r m a l e d u c a t i o n s y s t e m, I n d o n e s i a c o u l d n o t c o p e w i t h t h e e x p l o s i v e i n c r e a s e in t h e d e m a n d f o r t e r t i a r y e d u c a t i o n b y h i g h s c h o o l g r a d u a t e s. T h e G o v e r n m e n t o f I n d o n e s i a t h e r e f o r e e s t a b l i s h e d I n d o n e s i a n O p e n U n i v e r s i t y in a n d it a d m i t t e d 5 0, s t u d e n t s in t h e f i r s t y e a r a l o n e. T h e U n i v e r s i t y p r o v i d e s s e l f - i n s t r u c t i o n a l s t u d y m a t e r i a l, s u p p l m e n t e d b y R a d i o a n d T e l e v i s i o n l e c t u r e s a n d t h e S a t e l l i t e f a c i l i t i e s a v a i l a b l e a r e e f f e c t i v e l y u s e d. A u s t r a l i a and P a c i f i c R e g i o n i A u s t r a l i a ; T h e r e h a s b e e n a t r e m e n d o u s g r o w t h a n d c o n s i s t e n t d e v e l o p m e n t o f d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n in A u s t r a l i a. W i t h t h e s m a l l p o p u l a t i o n s c a t t e r e d w i d e l y o v e r v a s t a r e a, d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n p r o v e d a b o o n in m e e t i n g t h e i n d i v i d u a l e d u c a t i o n a l n e e d s o f t h e s o c i e t y. D i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n c o u r s e s h a s b e e n s t a r t e d a t a l l l e v e l s d u r i n g t h e f i r s t d e c a d e o f t h e 2 0 t h c e n t u r y. In p a s t 7 0 y e a r s, d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n h a s d e v e l o p e d i n t o a n i n t e g r a t e d p a r t o f t h e s y s t e m s o f G o v e r n m e n t f u n d e d e d u c a t i o n w i t h e a c h S t a t e h a v i n g a C o r r e s p o n d e n c e S c h o o l. T h e D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n a t t h e t e r i t a r y l e v e l in A u s t r a l i a is o r g a n i s e d o n r e g i o n a l b a s i s. T h e r e a r e s o m e f i v e U n i v e r s i t i e s a n d t e n C o l l e g e s o f a d v a n c e d e d u c a t i o n, i n v o l v e d in d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m m e s. T h e D a r l i n g D o w n s I n s t i t u t e o f A d v a n c e E d u c a t i o n i n t h e Q u e e n s l a n d, i s a n A u s t r a l i a n m o d e l o f d i s t a n c e

24 1 1 8 e d u c a t i o n a t a t e r t i a r y l e v e l. In t h i s I n s t i t u t e i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l e d u c a t i o n i s f u l l y i n t e g r a t e d. T h e r e a r e f i v e s c h o o l s in t h e I n s t i t u t e ; A p p l i e d S c i e n c e, A r t s, B u s i n e s s S t u d i e s, E d u c a t i o n a n d E n g i n e e r i n g. T h e D e p a r t m e n t o f E x t e r n a l a n d C o n t i n u i n g E d u c a t i o n h a n d l e s a l l a s p e c t s o f e x t e r n a l t e a c h i n g by w o r k i n g c l o s e l y w i t h f i v e S c h o o l s P r e s e r v i c e t e a c h e r s t r a i n i n g i s a l s o i m p a r t e d a t d i s t a n c e by n u m b e r o f U n i v e r s i t i e s a n d C o l l e g e s o f a d v a n c e d e d u c a t i o n. D i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n f o r i n s e r v i c e t e a c h e r s t a k e s f o r m o f d e g r e e - c o u r s - e s in e d u c a t i o n. I n s t r u c t i o n l a r g e l y i s t h r o u g h p r i n t m e d i a. 1:2:17 N e w Z e a l a n d 5 N e w Z e a l a n d i s k n o w n f o r w e l l d e v e l o p e d s y s t e m o f d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n b y p r o v i d i n g e d u c a t i o n a t a l l l e v e l s. M o s t o f t h e i n s t i t u t i o n s w o r k in c o l l a b o r a t i o n a n d a v o i d a n y k i n d of c o m p e t i t i o n. T h e N e w Z e a l a n d T e c h n i c a l C o r r e s p o n d e n c e I n s t i t u t e, i s t h e l a r g e s t t e c h n i c a l i n s t i t u t e in t h e A u s t r a l i a n r e g i o n o f f e r i n g a w i d e r a n g e of t e c h n i c a l a n d v o c a t i o n a l g u i d a n c e a t a d i s t a n c e. O v e r 3 4, s t u d e n t s h a v e b e e n e n r o l l e d i n t h i s I n s t i t u t i o n - i n c l u d i n g s t u d e n t s f r o m d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s. N e w Z e a l a n d C o r r e s p o n d e n c e S c h o o l h a s b e e n s e r v i n g t h e n e e d s o f c h i l d r e n in r e m o t e a r e a s t h r o u g h p a c k a g e o f c o r r e s p o n d e n c e l e s s o n s, s c h o o l b r o a d c a s t s a n d t e l e v i s i o n p r o g r a m m e s. l!2s!8 P a p u a N e w G u i n e a In , t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f E x t e n s i o n S t u d i e s o f U n i v e r s i t y of P a p u a N e w G u i n e a a n d t h e C o l l e g e o f E x t e r n a l S t u d i e s in P o s t

25 M o r e b y i n s t i t u t e d v a r i o u s p r o g r a m m e s in d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n to m e e t t h e e d u c a t i o n d e m a n d of p e o p l e. 1:2 s 19 M i d d l e E a s t T h e i m p a c t o f d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n c a n b e s e e n in M i d d l e E a s t c o u n t r i e s l i k e I s r a e l a n d J o r d a n too. T h e s e c o u n t r i e s h a v e m a d e g o o d h e a d w a y in t h e f i e l d o f d i s t a n c e - e d u c a t i o n. I s r a e l s e t u p " E v e r y m a n ' s U n i v e r s i t y " in t o p r o v i d e p r e - a c a d e m i c v o c a t i o n a l a n d a d u l t e d u c a t i o n a l c o u r s e s. It a l s o p l a n s t o o f f e r c o u r s e s u n d e r t h e a c a d e m i c p r o g r a m m e s in M a t h e m a t i c s, L i f e S c i e n c e s, E x a c t S c i e n c e s, H u m a n i t i e s a n d S o c i a l S c i e n c e s. J o r d a n h a s d e c i d e d t o s e t u p O p e n U n i v e r s i t y n a m e d A l - Q u d B O p e n U n i v e r s i t y in A m m a n. It h a s b e c o m e f u n c t i o n a l in Is 2 s 2 0 A m e r i c a a T h e d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n h a s i n f l u e n c e d t h e e d u c a t i o n s y s t e m o f N o r t h A m e r i c a p a r t i c u l a r l y in U S A a n d C a n a d a. C a n a d a i s o n e of t h e i m p o r t a n t r e g i o n i n N o r t h A m e r i c a a s f a r a s d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n i s c o n c e r n e d. T h e B r i t i s h C o l o m b i a, i s t h e b i r t h p l a c e o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o u n c i l f o r C o r r e s p o n d e n c e E d u c a t i o n ( I C C E ) n o w I C D E. It h a s e s t a b l i s h e d O p e n U n i v e r s i t y c o n s o r t i u m t o f a c i l i t a t e t h e o f f e r i n g s o f d e g r e e s, c e r t i f i c a t e s a n d d i p l o m a s. T h e A t h a b s a U n i v e r s i t y, c o n c e i v e d in 1970, in E d m o n t o n m a r k e d a s i g n i f i c a n t d e v e l o p m e n t in t h e f i e l d o f d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n. T h e U n i v e r s i t y w a s a u t h o r i s e d t o t a k e u p p i l o t s t u d y to d e v e l o p h o m e s t u d y c o u r s e s. In 1978, t h e U n i v e r s i t y w a s e s t a b l i s h e d o n t h e m o d e l o f U K O p e n U n i v e r s i t y, i t o f f e r s f o u r k i n d s of

26 d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m m e s, n a m e l y ; D e g r e e p r o g r a m m e s, t r a n s f e r p r o g r a m m e s, N o n p r o g r a m m e s s t u d i e s f o r a d u l t s a n d v i s i t i n g s t u d e n t s p r o g r a m m e s f o r s t u d e n t s a t o t h e r U n i v e r s i t i e s. C a n a d a h a s a l s o n u m b e r o f C o r e s p o n d e n c e S c h o o l s w h i c h w e r e s e t u p m o s t l y o n a c c o u n t of s h o r t a g e o f t e a c h e r s. T h e s e s c h o o l s p r o v i d e e d u c a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o c h i l d r e n. I i2r21 U n i t e d S t a t e s of A m e r i c a ; D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n in A m e r i c a h a s a h i s t o r y o f m o r e t h a n o n e c e n t u r y. C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s l e a d i n g t o d e g r e e c o u r s e s w a s r e c o g n i s e d in w h e n I l i n o i s W e s l e y U n i v e r s i t y s t a r t e d o f f e r i n g N o n - r e s i d e n t c o u r s e s. T h e U n i v e r s i t y of C h i c a g o i n t r o d u c e d c o r r e s p o n d e n c e p r o g r a m m e s in T h i s w a s f o l l o w e d by o t h e r U n i v e r s i t i e s v i z. W i s c o n s i n, B e r k e l e y, C a l i f o r n i a a n d U n i v e r s i t y o f N e b r a s k a. A u n i q u e d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n o r g a n i s a t i o n o f f e r i n g a n e x t e n s i v e p r o g r a m m e s o f c o r r e s p o n d e n c e e d u c a t i o n t o e n a b l e A r m y F o r c e s P e r s o n n e l t o a c q u i r e s e c o n d a r y a n d p o s t s e c o n d a r y, o c c u p a t i o n a l a n d t r a d i t i o n a l e d u c a t i o n w a s s e t u p in U S A b y t h e n a m e o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s A r m e d F o r c e s I n s t i t u t e ( U S A F I ). T h e t e n w e l l k n o w n U n i v e r s i t i e s h a v e d e v e l o p e d r e p u t e d C o r e s p o n d e n c e I n s t i t u t i o n s / D i r e c t o r a t e / D e p a r t m e n t s, w i t h a n n u a l e n r o l m e n t v a r y i n g f r o m 1 7, t o 5 0, s t u d e n t s. T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f W i s c o n s i n, h a s d o n e c o m m e n d a b l e w o r k t h r o u g h C o m m u n i c a t i o n P r o g r a m m e s D e p a r t m e n t in d e v e l o p i n g T e l e p h o n e a s a n e f f e c t i v e e d u c a t i o n a l t o o l. T h e U n i v e r s i t y of F l o r i d a o f f e r s f a c i l i t i e s f o r i n d e p e n d e n t o f f - c a m p u s s t u d y.

27 121 T h e w o r l d - w i d e v i e w o f t h e d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n r e v e a l t h a t t h e i n n o v a t i v e s y s t e m h a s b e e n p o p u l a r i s e d all o v e r t h e w o r l d. W h e t h e r it i s t h e c a s e o f d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s, d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n h a s b e e n v a l u e d a s t h e m e a n s of d e m o c r a t i z a t i o n of e d u c a t i o n a n d o p e n l e a r n i n g. A g l i m p s e of t h e d i f f e r e n t s t r u c t u r e s of d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n r e v e a l t h a t t h e r e is n o c o m m o n s t r u c t u r e of d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n a c c e p t e d a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d. In m o s t c o u n t i e s D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n I n s t i t u t i o n s w o r k w i t h i n t h e f r a m e w o r k o f t r a d i t i o n a l U n i v e r s i t i e s. In c e r t a i n c o u n t r i e s i n s t i t u t e s a r e g i v e n t h e s t a t u s of a F a c u l t y w h e r e a s o t h e r U n i v e r s i t i e s t h e r e is n o c l e a r c u t p o s i t i o n o f t h e I n s t i t u t e. M o s t of t h e d e v e l o p e d c o u n t r i e s h a v e o p t e d f o r O p e n U n i v e r s i t i e s w i t h t o t a l i n d e p e n d e n c e in c o u r s e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d c e r t i f i c a t i o n. T h e r e f o r e t h e r e is a n e e d t o d e v e l o p a u n i f o r m s y s t e m o f d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d. U N E S C O R O E A P ' S P R O G R A M S a T h e U N E S C O h a B a l s o p l a y e d i t s r o l e in p r o m o t i o n, g r o w t h a n d t r a i n i n g o f d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n, t h r o u g h p r o m o t i o n o f r e g i o n a l c o o p e r a t i o n. R O E A P ' s in c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h U n i v e r s i t i e s a n d I n s t i t u t i o n s h a s o r g a n i s e d s e r i e s o f m e e t i n g of e x p e r t s, t r a i n i n g w o r k s h o p s, s t u d y v i s i t s a n d b r o u g h t o u t a l a r g e n u m b e r of p u b l i c a t i o n s in A s i a a n d P a c i f i c r e g i o n. R O E A P ' s a c t i v i t i e s h a v e b e e n c a r r i e d o u t w i t h i n t h e f r a m e w o r k o f t w o r e g i o n a l p r o g r a m m e s n a m e l y, a) A s i a - P a c i f i c P r o g r a m m e o f E d u c a t i o n a l I n n o v a t i o n f o r d e v e l o p m e n t a n d b) t h e R e g i o n a l C o o p e r a t i v e P r o g r a m m e of H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n f o r D e v e l o p m e n t i n A s i a a n d P a c i f i c. F o l l o w i n g a r e s o m e o f t h e a c t i v i t i e s c o n d u c t e d b y R O E A P ' s s i n c e s i) S t u d y g r o u p M e e t i n g o n U n i v e r s a l i z a t i o n of E d u c a t i o n B a n g k o k, ;

28 122 ii) T e c h n i c a l w o r k i n g G r o u p M e e t i n g on E d u c a t i o n B r o a d c a s t i n g, K a u l a L u m p u r , i i i ) S u b - R e g i o n a l C o u r s e s o n E d u c a t i o n B r o a d c a s t i n g K a u l a l u m p u r i v ) T e c h n i c a l W o r k i n g G r o u p M e e t i n g o n D i s t a n c e L e a r n i n g f o r T e a c h e r s E d u c a t i o n, A I O U - I s l a m a b a d v) S u b - R e g i o n a l T r a i n i n g W o r k s h o p o n D i s t a n c e L e a r n - i n g S y s t e m - C o l o m b o v i ) R e g i o n a l T r a i n i n g W o r k s h o p o n D e v e l o p m e n t of D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n, I n s t r u c t i o n a l M a t e r i a l - T h a i 1 a n d v i i ) R e g i o n a l T r a i n i n g W o r k s h o p o n D e v e l o p m e n t, U s e a n d E v a l u a t i o n o f B r o a d c a s t i n g M a t e r i a l A I O U - I s l a m a b a d P a k i s t a n S i m i l a r l y f o l l o w u p o f W o r k s h o p s w a s h e l d in B a n g l a d e s h, I n d i a, I n d o n e s i a, P a k i s t a n, P a p u a N e w G u i n e a, S r i - L a n k a e t c. T h e r e p o r t s o f t h e v a r i o u s w o r k s h o p s, e x p e r t m e e t i n g s h a v e b e e n p u b l i s h e d. T h e D i r e c t o r y o f I n s t i t u t i o n s o f H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n in A s i a a n d P a c i f i c , a n d D i r e c t o r y o n R e s o u r c e M a t e r i a l in D i s t a n c e T e a c h i n g a r e t h e i m p o r t a n t s o u r c e s o f i n f o r m a t i o n o n d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n.

29 D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n in I n d i at If w e l o o k t o t h e e d u c a t i o n s c e n e in t h i s c o u n t r y in l a s t 50 y e a r s, it is t r u e t h a t t h e r e h a s b e e n a r e m a r k a b l e p r o g r e s s in e d u c a t i o n, p a r t i c u l a r l y a t t e r t i a r y l e v e l. In t h e r e w e r e o n l y 2 2 U n i v e r s i t i e s in t h e c o u n t r y, t o d a y t h e r e a r e a b o u t U n i v e i s i t i e s. S i m i l a r l y t h e n u m b e r o f C o l l e g e s, h a v e g o n e u p f r o m to , a n d, t h e n u m b e r o f s t u d e n t s h a v e i n c r e a s e d f r o m 1, 7 4, to 3 5, 3 8, f r o m , a c c o r d i n g t o C e n s u s. D e s p i t e t h i s i n c r e a s e, t h e p r o p o r t i o n o f t e r t i a r y l e v e l s t u d e n t p o p u l a t i o n in r e l a t i v e a g e g r o u p i. e y e a r s i s o n l y 4.8"/. w h i c h c o m p a r e s v e r y u n f a v o r a b l y w i t h s o m e o f t h e c o u n t r i e s l i k e P h i l i p p i n e s, S o u t h K o r e a, J a p a n, U S A e t c. T h i s s h o w s t h a t h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n in I n d i a l a g s f a r b e h i n d t h e d e v e l o p i n g «< d e v e l o p e d c o u n t r i e s. W i t h t h e e x p a n s i o n o f t h e S c h o o l S y s t e m, t h e n u m b e r of s t u d e n t s g o i n g t o h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n i s l i k e l y t o i n c r e a s e. E v e n a c o n s e r v a t i v e e s t i m a t e f o r A D i n d i c a t e t h a t l i k e l y in h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n i s e x p e c t e d t o d o u b l e i. e. r o u g h l y t h e r e e n r o l l m e n t w i l l b e 6 1 / 2 m i l l i o n s t u d e n t s. T h e e n r o l m e n t w i l l q u a d r u p l e in t h e n e x t s i x y e a r s. It i s c l e a r t h a t w e w i l l f a c e a c r i s e s o f g r o w i n g D O i n t e n s i t y u n l e s s t h e p r e s e n t p r o b l e m i s tackled''-"'. T h e n t h e r e a r e t h e i n e q u a l i t i e s o f o t h e r k i n d s in e d u c a t i o n e. g. b e t w e e n m a l e s a n d f e m a l e s, r u r a l & u r b a n a r e a s, o f t h e t o t a l e n r o l m e n t s, w o m e n a c c o u n t e d f o r o n l y 2 8 % in in p o s t - s e c o n d a r y e d u c a t i o n. M o r e t h a n 5 0 % o p t e d f o r A r t s B u b ject a s c o m p a r e d t o o v e r 3 9 % o p t i n g f o r S c i e n c e. S i m i l a r l y S c h e d u l e c a s t e a n d S c h e d u l e T r i b e

30 124 s t u d e n t s h a v e l e s s a c c e s s t o e d u c a t i o n t h a n o t h e r. T h e i r e n r o l l - m e n t in h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n i s o n l y 7 % a n d in c a s e o f S c h e d u l e t r i b e s it i s o n l y l.o/c. T h e r e a r e a l s o r e g i o n a l i m b a l a n c e s in a c c e s s to e d u c a t i o n. In e n r o l m e n t, it v a r i e s f r o m 61 in A r u n a c h a l P r a d e s h to in C h a n d i g a r h. T h e A l l I n d i a a v e r a g e b e i n g p e r l a k h of p o p u l a t i o n. B i h a r a n d A s s a m h a v e o n l y 2 G r a d u a t e s p e r t h o u s a n d of p o p u l a t i o n i. e b e l o w t h e n a t i o n a l a v e r a g e. In s t a t e s l i k e K e r a l a M a h r a s h t r a, P u n j a b & G u j r a t, it is o n l y 5 t o 6 g r a d u a t e s p e r t h o u s a n d p o p u l a t i o n. T h u s, p r e s s u r e f o r e x p a n s i o n of e d u c a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s w i l l g r o w, a n d t r e m e n d o u s p r e s s u r e h a s b e e n exer c i s e d o n t h e g o v e r n m e n t s t o o p e n m o r e a n d m o r e i n s t i t u t i o n s of h i g h e r l e a r n i n g, a n d, a d e m o c r a t i c g o v e r n m e n t, c a n n o t a f f o r d to r e s i s t s u c h a p r e s s u r e s e v e n a s s u m i n g t h a t s u c h a r e s i s t a n c e is d e s i r a b l e 2 '-'. A s s u m i n g t h a t m o r e e d u c a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s h a v e t o b e p r o v i d e d in t h i s c o u n t r y, w h a t s h o u l d b e t h e a p p r o a c h t o m e e t s u c h a c o l o s s a l d e m a n d? O b v i o u s l y o n e a p p r o a c h is t o s t a r t m o r e a n d m o r e i n s t i t u t i o n s o f h i g h e r l e a r n i n g, a n d t h a t i s h o w t h a t g o v e r n m e n t s in C e n t r e a n d S t a t e s h a v e b e e n r e s p o n d i n g t o t h e d e m a n d s d u r i n g l a s t 4 0 y e a r s in t h i s c o u n t r y. B u t w e s e e t h a t e v e n t h i s p h e n o m e n a l e x p a n s i o n h a s n o t m e t t h e d e m a n d s a n d i n e q u i t i e s c o n t i n u e to e x i s t. T h i s i s m a i n l y b e c a u s e o f o u r a p p r o a c h t o e d u c a t i o n. T h e q u a l i t y o f e d u c a t i o n t o o h a s s u f f e r e d a n d d e t e r i o r a t e d c o n s i d e r a b l y. T h e r e a r e c e r t a i n p r e s t i g i o u s i n s t i t u t i o n s in t h e c o u n t r y w h i c h a r e a s g o o d a s a n y o t h e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s. B u t v e r y f e w p e o p l e h a v e a c c e s s t o t h e m. S i m i l a r l y h i g h q u a l i t y e d u c a t i o n i s b y a n d l a r g e c o n f i n e d t o c e r t a i n p o c k e t s in U r b a n a r e a s a n d r u r a l a r e a s h a v e t o c o n t e n t w i t h s u b - s t a n d a r d i n s t i t u t i o n s. A s a r e s u l t, t h e q u a l i t y o f e d u c a t i o n in t h e U n i v e r s i

31 125 t i e s of t h i s c o u n t r y i s n o t e v e n, s o m e a r e v e r y g o o d, s o m e o t h e r s n o t s o g o o d. E v e n w i t h i n t h e s a m e U n i v e r s i t y, n o t all d e p a r t m e n t s a r e of h i g h c a l i b r e. V a r i a t i o n s in t h e q u a l i t y of e d u c a t i o n i s m a i n l y b e c a u s e o f p r o l i f e r a t i o n w h i c h h a s t a k e n p l a c e w i t h o u t r e f e r e n c e t o q u a l i t y. S i m i l a r l y, t h e U n i v e r s i t i e s a n d C o l l e g e s a r e n o t r e l e v a n t t o t h e s o c i a l n e e d s. W h e r e w e n e e d m o r e t e c h n i c a l e d u c a t i o n, w e a r e p r o v i d i n g f o r m o r e a r t s c o u r s e s, w h e r e w e n e e d m o r e t e c h n o l o g i e s, w e a r e p r o d u c i n g m o r e e n g i n e e r s a n d d o c t o r s, w h e r e w e n e e d m o r e c o n t i n u i n g e d u c a t i o n t o u p - d a t e t h e s k i l l s a n d k n o w l e d g e o f t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e, w e a r e p r o v i d i n g m o r e o f g e n e r a l e d u c a t i o n. In c h a n g i n g s o c i e t y m o r e o p p o r t u n i t i e s a r e t o b e p r o v i d e d in c o n t i n u i n g a n d e x t e n s i o n e d u c a t i o n. It i s w i t h t h e s e o b j e c t i v e s t h a t t w o a n d h a l f d e c a d e s a g o, c o r r e s p o n d e n c e e d u c a t i o n w a s c o n c e i v e d a s a p i l o t p r o j e c t in t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f D e l h i. In , 3 1 U n i v e r s i t i e s g a v e i n s t r u c t i o n s by C o r r e s p o n d e n c e a t v a r i o u s l e v e l s. D u r i n g to O p e n U n i v e r s i t i e e w e r e a l s o e s t a b l i s h e d. I s 3 : 2 C o r r e s p o n d e n c e E d u c a t i o n in India; W i t h t h e d a w n o f f r e e d o m, t h e i m p o r t a n t r o l e t h a t E d u c a t i o n c o u l d p l a y i n t h e o v e r a l l d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e n a t i o n a n d s u c c e s s ful f u n c t i o n i n g o f d e m o c r a c y w a s r e a l i z e d, a n d t h e r e f o r e a p l a n n e d e x p a n s i o n of e d u c a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s w i t h i n t h e f i n a n c i a l c a p a c i t i e s, w a s e n v i s a g e d. T h e l a r g e n u m b e r o f C o l l e g e s, a n d U n i v e r s i t i e s w e r e s t a r t e d b u t s t i l l t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g d e m a n d of e d u c a t i o n i n c r e a s e d, for, p r o v i d i n g c o m p u l s o r y e d u c a t i o n t o a l l c h i l d r e n, e r a d i c a t i o n o f i l l i t e r a c y, p r o v i d i n g f u n c t i o n a l l i t e r a c y t o a d u l t s, e x p a n d i n g e d u c a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s, d i v e r s i f i c a t i o n o f e d u c a t i o n a l p r o g r a m

32 126 m e s to m a k e e d u c a t i o n r e l e v a n t a n d i m p r o v i n g a n d m a i n t a i n i n g q u a l i t y 2 4. S e r i o u s t h o u g h t w a s t h e r e f o r e g i v e n t o t h e s e p r o b l e m s a n d it w a s f e l t t h a t w a y s a n d m e a n s b e f o u n d t o d e m o c r a t i z e t h e e d u c a t i o n s y s t e m in o r d e r t o c o p e w i t h t h e c h a l l e n g e s of e x p a n d i n g a n d e q u a l i z i n g e d u c a t i o n o p p o r t u n i t i e s. T h e T h i r d P l a n t o o k n o t e o f a n d m a d e f o l l o w i n g u n d e r U n i v e r s i t y e d u c a t i o n. o b s e r v a t i o n s w i t h t h e e x p a n d i n g b a s e at t h e e l e m e n t a r y a n d s e c o n d a r y l e v e l t h e d e m a n d f o r h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n h a s g r e a t l y i n c r e a s e d ; t h e r a p i d e x p a n s i o n in t h e n u m b e r of U n i v e r s i t i e s a n d C o l l e g e s h a s l e d t o n u m b e r o f p r o b l e m s, t h e s e h a v e b e e n r e v i e w e d in t h e r e p o r t of U G C T h e P l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n s t r e s s e d t h a t if d e t e r i o r a t i o n i s t o b e a v o i d e d, t h e i n c r e a s e in t h e n u m b e r o f s t u d e n t s s h o u l d b e a c c o m p a n i e d b y c o r r e s p o n d i n g e x p a n s i o n o f p h y s i c a l a n d o t h e r t e a c h i n g f a c i l i t i e s. In T h i r d P l a n l a r g e r f a c i l i t i e s w e r e p r o v i d e d f o r d i v e r t i n g s t u d e n t s t o v o c a t i o n a l a n d t e c h n o l o g i c a l e d u c a t i o n. H o w e v e r, t h e p r o b l e m i s o n e o f t h e l a r g e d i m e n s i o n s a n d e v e n n u m b e r o f t h o s e s e e k i n g a d m i s s i o n t o t h e c o u r s e s o f h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n, a r t s, s c i e n c e a n d c o m m e r c e w i l l b e q u i t e l a r g e a n d s u i t a b l e c r i t e r i a f o r s e l e c t i o n h a v e t o b e a d o p t e d. In a d d i t i o n t o t h e p r o v i s i o n i n t h e p l a n f o r e x p a n s i o n o f f a c i l i t i e s f o r

33 127 h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n, p r o p o s a l f o r e v e n i n g c l a s s e s, C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e, a n d t h e a w a r d of e x t e r n a l d e g r e e s a r e a t p r e s e n t u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n ". In t h e l i g h t o f t h e s e o b s e r v a t i o n, " M i n i s t r y o f E d u c a t i o n G o v e r n m e n t of I n d i a c o n s t i t u t e d an E x p e r t C o m m i t t e e h e a d e d by D r. D. S. K o t h a r i, C h a i r m a n U G C in , w i t h 9 o t h e r m e m b e r s. T h e C o m m i t t e e a f t e r g o i n g t h r o u g h a l l r e l e v a n t r e c o r d a n d m a t t e r s, c a r e f u l l y d r a w i n g t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f o t h e r c o u n t r i e s m a d e t h e f o l l o w i n g r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s s 1. T h e C o r r e s p o n d e n c e m e t h o d is o f g r e a t e r f l e x i b i l i t y t h a n c l a s s r o o m e d u c a t i o n p a r t i c u l a r l y in t h e c o m b i n a t i o n o f s u b j e c t s l e a d i n g t o a d e g r e e, a n d t h i s i s a n a d v a n t a g e t h a t s h o u l d b e f u l l y e x p l o i t e d in t h e i n t e r e s t s of s o u n d e d u c a t i o n. 2. S i n c e m a n y i t e m s o f e x p e n d i t u r e in t h e r e g u l a r Bystem o f e d u c a t i o n a t t h e d a y a n d e v e n i n g C o l l e g e c a n b e e l i m i n a t e d in t h e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e m e t h o d, it s h o u l d b e p o s s i b l e, n a y e s s e n t i a l t o a c h i e v e r e s u l t s w i t h e c o n o m y. 3. A c a d e m i c s t a n d a r d s a r e d e t e r m i n e d b y g e n e r a l f a c t o r s s u c h a s a d m i s s i o n s t a n d a r d s, w e l 1- p r e p a r e d, i n s t r u c t i o n a l m a t e r i a l, e a s y t o u n d e r s t a n d t e x t s, a m p l e e x e r c i s e s in t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f k n o w l e d g e, p r e - t e s t e d a n d c o n s t a n t l y r e v i s e d c o u r s e s, c a r e f u l c o r r e c t i o n a l a n d i n s t r u c t i o n a l s e r v i c e s, i n v i g i l a t e d e x a m i n a t i o n o f q u a l i t y, c a r e f u l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d f a i r m a r k i n g s t a n d a r d s s e t f o r p a s s i n g e x a m i n a t i o n.

34 C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s c o u l d p r o v i d e a d d i t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r s e v e r a l t h o u s a n d s t u d e n t s. S o m e of t h e s e m a y b e e d u c a t e d s t u d e n t s w h o w i s h to c o n t i n u e t h e i r e d u c a t i o n. O t h e r s m a y be p e r s o n s w h o h a v e b e e n d e n i e d t h e s e f a c i l i t i e s to d a t e a n d a r e a t p r e s e n t in f u l l t i m e e m p l o y m e n t, o r a r e f o r o t h e r r e a s o n s, p r e v e n t e d f r o m a v a i l i n g t h e s e m s e l v e s o f f a c i l i t i e s a t c o l l e g e s. 5. In o r d e r to e n s u r e t h a t C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s in I n d i a l e a d i n g t o a d e g r e e a r e b o t h e d u c a t i o n a l l y e f f e c t i v e a n d e c o n o m i c a l, t h e s e s h o u l d a t l e a s t u n d e r t h e p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n s, be a d m i n i s t e r e d by U n i v e r s i t y o n l y. F o r t h e m a i n t e n a n c e of t h e a c a d e m i c s t a n d a r d s, it i s e s s e n t i a l t h e C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s s h o u l d b e a p a r t of w i d e r a c a d e m i c f r a m e w o r k, t h a t i s p r o v i d e d by t h e U n i v e r s i t i e s. 6. C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s c a n b e d e s i g n e d a s a s t e p t o e x p a n d a n d e q u a l i s e e d u c a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s, if a d e q u a t e c a r e i s t a k e n in t e r m s of p a r a 5 a b o v e, i t s h o u l d b e p o s s i b l e t o a c h i e v e t h i s o b j e c t i v e t h r o u g h c o r r e s p o n d e n c e m e t h o d s w i t h o u t d i l u t i n g t h e s t a n d a r d s. 7. F o r C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s l e a d i n g t o f i r s t d e g r e e t h e r e s h o u l d b e p e r s o n a l c o n t a c t b e t w e e n t h e t e a c h e r a n d t a u g h t f o r about, t h r e e w e e k s in a y e a r, p r e f e r a b l y o n t u i t i o n a l r a t h e r t h a n o n a l e c t u r e b a s i s. W h e r e t h e t e a c h e r o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y r u n n i n g t h e c o u r s e s a r e n o t a b l e t o r u n s u c h c o n t a c t c l a s s e s, it s h o u l d b e p o s s i b l e f o r t h e U n i v e r s i t y t o m a k e a l t e r n a t e a r r a n g e m e n t s w i t h a U n i v e r s i t y o r

35 123 l o c a l e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s n e a r t h e r e s i d e n c e o f t h e s t u d e n t s. 8. In o r d e r t o m a i n t a i n e d u c a t i o n a l s t a n d a r d s, i t s h o u ld b e n e c e s s a r y t o a s s o c i a t e t o p r a n k i n g s c h o l a r s a n d t e a c h e r s t o t h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f c o u r s e s a n d t h e s e l e c t i o n o f t h e t e x t b o o k s, " w r i t i n g t h e t e a c h e r i n t o t h e t e x t ". 9. S o m e t r a i n i n g a n d c o n t i n u i n g g u i d a n c e s h o u l d be p r o v i d e d to w r i t e r s w h o c a n ' w r i t e t h e t e a c h e r i n t o t e x t ' a n d i n s t r u c t o r s w h o a r e to c o r r e c t w r i t t e n s c r i p t T h e s u c c e s s o f t h e e n t i r e s c h e m e of C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s w i l l d e p e n d u p o n t h e c o m p e t e n c e, r e s o u r c e f u l n e s s a n d d e d i c a t i o n o f t h e s t a f f t h a t r u n s C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s In t h e f i r s t i n s t a n c e C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s s h o u l d b e l i m i t e d t o s u b j e c t s in t h e A r t s a n d C o m m e r c e F a c u l t i e s. In t h e l a t e r s c i e n c e a n d t e c h n o l o g y c o u l d b e i n t r o d u c e d. T h e s e c o u r s e s c a l l f o r g r e a t e r o r g a n i z a t i o n a l e f f o r t. 1 2.F e e s f o r s t u d e n t s a p p l y i n g f o r t h e s e c o u r s e s s h o u l d b e r e a s o n a b l y h i g h in t h e f i r s t y e a r, b u t s h o u l d be p r o g r e s s i v e l y l o w e r e d in s e c o n d a n d t h i r d y e a r, a n d, p e r h a p s if p o s s i b l e s h o u l d b e e l i m i n a t e d a l t o g e t h e r in t h e f o u r t h y e a r T h e C o m m i t t e e f u r t h e r r e c o m m e n d e d t w o s u p p l e m e n t a r y a i d s in t h e s h a p e o f r e f r e s h e r c o u r s e s in w h i c h i n s t r u c t i o n s a n d s t u d e n t s c o u l d c o m e t o g e t h e r

36 130 a n d b r i d g e t h e g a p b e t w e e n t e a c h e r a n d t h e t a u g h t. F u r t h e r m o r e, l i b r a r y f a c i l i t i e s b e m a d e a v a i l a b l e t o t h e l e a r n e r, a n d a d e q u a t e l i b r a r y f a c i l i t i e s be p r o v i d e d in t h e U n i v e r s i t y C o n s i d e r a b l e e x p e n d i t u r e w i l l h a v e to b e m a d e in t h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f t e a c h i n g m a t e r i a l s if q u a l i t y is to b e e n s u r e d a n d m a i n t a i n e d T h e s c h e m e o f t e a c h i n g t h r o u g h c o r r e s p o n d e n c e s h o u l d b e a s e l f - p a y i n g p r o p o s i t i o n a s t h e i n c o m e f r o m f e e s h o u l d b e m o r e t h a n s u f f i c i e n t to m e e t t h e e x p e n s e s of t h e s c h e m e. T h e C o m m i t t e e d u r i n g i t s d e l i b e r a t i o n s u g g e s t e d t h a t D e l h i U n i v e r s i t y m i g h t l a u n c h t h e s c h e m e of C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e a s a P i l o t P r o j e c t. T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f D e l h i, a g r e e d to t h e p r o p o s a l a n d S c h o o l o f C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s a n d C o n t i n u i n g E d u c a t i o n w a s e s t a b l i s h e d in T h e e n r o l m e n t in B. A. / B. S c c o u r s e s i n c r e a s e d a n d t o u c h e d 1 4, i n T h e E d u c a t i o n C o m m i s s i o n a p p o i n t e d b y G o v e r n m e n t o f I n d i a in u n d e r t h e C h a i r m a n s h i p o f D r. D. S. K o t h a r i, t o a d v i s e t h e g o v e r n m e n t o n t h e n a t i o n a l p a t t e r n o f e d u c a t i o n a n d g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e s a n d p o l i c i e s f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f e d u c a t i o n r e c o m m e n d e d : " T h e o p p o r t u n i t i e s o f p a r t - t i m e e d u c a t i o n t h r o u g h p r o g r a m m e s l i k e e v e n i n g c o l l e g e s a n d f o r o w n - t i m e e d u c a t i o n t h r o u g h p r o g r a m m e s l i k e C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s s h o u l d b e e x t e n d e d a s w i d e l y a s p o s s i b l e a n d s h o u l d a l s o i n c l u d e c o u r s e s i n s c i e n c e a n d t e c h n o l o g y. T h e y w i l l h e l p t o r e d u c e c a p i t a l c o s t s o f e x p a n d i n g h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n a n d c u t d o w n e v e n t h e r e c u r r i n g c o s t s t o a s u b s t a n t i a l e x t e n t ; e s p e c i a l l y a s e n r o l l m e n t g r o w s.

37 131 T h e y a r e t h e o n l y m e a n s t o p r o v i d e h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n to t h o s e w h o d e s i r e t o s t u d y f u r t h e r, b u t a r e c o m p e l l e d, o n e c o n o m i c g r o u n d s t o t a k e u p e m p l o y m e n t at a s c h o o l a g e ". S i n c e I n d i a d i d n o t h a v e t h e n e c e s s a r y e x p e r t i z e o n t h e C o r r e s p o n d e n c e e d u c a t i o n t h e U G C s e n d a d e l e g a t i o n t o U S S R to s t u d y t h e s c h e m e - T h e y s u b m i t t e d a d e t a i l e d r e p o r t o n C o r r e s p o n d e n c e e d u c a t i o n in a n d a s f o l l o w u p m e a s u r e s o n t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o f E d u c a t i o n C o m m i s s i o n a n d t h e P l a n n i n g c o m m i s s i o n, a n d s a t i s f i e d w i t h t h e s u c c e s s o f t h e P i l o t P r o j e c t s t a r t e d by D e l h i U n i v e r s i t y, t h e U n i v e r s i t y G r a n t s C o m m i s s i o n, a p p o i n t e d a n o t h e r C o m m i t t e e in t o c o n s i d e r t h e q u e s t i o n o f e x t e n s i o n o f C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s t o o t h e r U n i v e r s i t i e s - T h e C o m m i t t e e m a d e t h e f o l l o w i n g r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s : i). T h e C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s h o u l d b e s t a r t e d o n l y in w e l l e s t a b l i s h e d U n i v e r s i t i e s w i t h s t r o n g F a c u l t i e s ; i i). D u p l i c a t i o n o f c o u r s e s f o r t h e s a m e d e g r e e s h o u l d b e a v o i d e d u n l e s s t h e r e a r e c o m p e l l i n g r e a s o n s t o d o so; i i i ) T h e U n i v e r s i t i e s p r o v i d i n g C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s s h o u l d h a v e c e n t r e s in d i f f e r e n t p l a c e s f o r c o n t a c t c l a s s e s. T h e c o l l e g e s s h o u l d b e u s e d a s c o n t a c t p o i n t s, a n d t h e i r l a b o r a t o r y a n d l i b r a r y f a c i l i t i e s u s e d a s f a r a s p o s s i b l e. iv) U n i v e r s i t i e s p r o v i d i n g c o r r e s p o n d e n c e s h o u l d h a v e s p e c i a l l i b r a r y f a c i l i t i e s f o r t h e s e c o u r s e s, s u c h a s m u l t i p l e c o p i e s o f t e x t b o o k s a n d s p e c i a l l y p r e p a r e d b o o k s f o r C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s ; v) It s h o u l d b e d e s i r a b l e t o o r g a n i s e a w o r k s h o p o n m e t h o d o l o g y f o r p r e p a r a t i o n o f i n s t r u c t i o n a l m a t e r i a l,

38 132 v i ) T h e d u r a t i o n of d e g r e e f o r c o r r e s p o n d e n c e s h o u l d b e s a m e a s f o r a s t h e n o r m a l c o u r s e s v i i ) It s h o u l d b e d e s i r a b l e t h a t o n l y a s e l e c t e d n u m b e r of U n i v e r s i t i e s u n d e r t a k e to i n i t i a t e t h e s e c o u r s e s in t h e f i r s t i n s t a n c e. In t h e l i g h t o f r e c o m m e n d a t i o n, U 6C d e c i d e d t o e x t e n d t h e s c h e m e to o t h e r U n i v e r s i t i e s. P u b j a b U n i v e r s i t y P a t i a l a w a s t h e s e c o n d U n i v e r s i t y in t h e c o u n t r y w h i c h w a s a l l o w e d t o s e t u p a f u l l - f l e d g e d D i r e c t o r a t e o f C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e in F r o m t o t w o d e l e g a t i o n w e r e s e n t t o U S S R a n d a s a f o l l o w u p a c t i o n o n t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o f t h e s e d e l e g a t i o n, t h e U B C c o m m i t t e e o n p a r t - t i m e e d u c a t i o n h e l d a m e e t i n g on 2 5 t h S e p t e m b e r, t o c o n s i d e r a p r o p o s a l o f N a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t e of C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e. T h e C o m m i t t e e m a d e f o l l o w i n g r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s : 1. In v i e w o f t h e f a c t t h a t p a r t - t i m e a n d w h o l e t i m e e d u c a t i o n r e q u i r e d i f f e r e n t k i n d s o f t e c h n o l o g y t h e s e t t i n g o f f u p o f a C e n t r a l I n s t i t u t i o n w o u l d b e h e l p f u l in d e v e l o p i n g t h e t e c h n o l o g y a n d m a t e r i a l s f o r C o r r e s p o n d e n c e E d u c a t i o n. 2. T h e m a i n o b j e c t o f t h e C e n t r a l I n s t i t u t e w o u l d b e t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f s t a n d a r d s a n d c o o r d i n a t i o n o f a c t i v i t i e s a n d p r o g r a m m e s o f v a r i o u s i n s t i t u t i o n s o f f e r i n g C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s in t h e c o u n t r y. 3. T h e I n s t i t u t e c o u l d o f f e r c o u r s e s o n i t s o w n s p e c i a l l y in a r e a s w h i c h f o r v a r i e t y o f r e a s o n s, i n d i v i d u a l i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d U n i v e r s i t i e s m a y f i n d i t d i f f i c u l t t o o f f e r t h r o u g h C o r r e s p o n d e n c e. T h e I n s t i t u t e c o u l d e x p e r i m e n t j o b - o r i e n t e d c o u r s e s.

39 T h e u s e of a u d i o - v i s u a l a i d s is a l m o s t i n d i s p e n s a b l e, a n d i t w o u l d b e n e c e s s a r y t o t r a i n t h e t e a c h e r s in t h e u s e o f t h e A u d i o v i d e o a i d s a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f i n s t r u c t i o n a l m a t e r i a l a c c o r d i n g l y. 5. T h e C e n t r a l I n s t i t u t e s h o u l d w o r k o u t in c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h M i n i s t r y o f I n f o r m a t i o n a n d B r o a d c a s t i n g, m e t h o d s f o r s e l e c t i n g t e a c h e r s f o r t a l k s, d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t a p e - r e c o r d e d p r o g r a m m e s e t c. 6. T h e C o m m i t t e e s u g g e s t e d t h e I n s t i t u t e b e d e s i g n a t e d a s N a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t e o f C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e. 7. T h e U B C m a y s e t u p a p l a n n i n g c o m m i t t e e f o r f o r m u l a t i n g t h e d e t a i l s o f t h e o r g a n i s a t i o n a l s e t u p, o b j e c t i v e s a n d f u n c t i o n s of t h e I n s t i t u t e a n d f i n a n c i a l i m p l i c a t i o n s t h e r e o f. 8. S i n c e t h e I n s t i t u t e w i l l n e e d t h e f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y B r a n t s C o m m i s s i o n, it s h o u l d b e d e e m e d a s a U n i v e r s i t y u n d e r S. 3 of t h e U B C A c t. 9. T h e f u n c t i o n s o f t h e N a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t e s h o u l d bes i) t o p r o m o t e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e c o n c e p t o f c o r r e s p o n d e n c e e d u c a t i o n a n d t h e i r p o t e n t i a l i t i e s a n d a c h i e v e m e n t s. ii) t o l a y d o w n c r i t e r i a a n d s t a n d a r d s f o r C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s a n d t o r e v i e w t h e s e f r o m t i m e t o t i m e... i i i ) t o s e r v e a s a c e n t r e o f R e s e a r c h o n v a r i o u s a s p e c t s of c o r r e s p o n d e n c e s t u d i e s, s u c h a s m e t h o d o l o g i e s a n d t e c h n i q u e s f o r p r e p a r i n g c o u r s e m a t e r i a l, e v a l u a t i o n o f s t u d e n t s r e s p o n s e s h e e t s ; u s e o f v a r i o u s a u d i o v i d e o a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n m e d i a.

40 134 iv) t o a s s e s s d e m a n d s of d i f f e r e n t t y p e s of c o u r s e s in d i f f e r e n t r e g i o n s, s o t h a t c o u r s e s a r e s o c i a l l y a n d e c o n o m i c a l l y r e l e v a n t. v) to e n s u r e c o o p e r a t i o n a n d c o o r d i n a t i o n i n t o d i f f e r e n t C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e I n s t i t u t i o n s in t h e c o u n t r y vi) t o o r g a n i s e w o r k s h o p s a n d o r i e n t a t i o n c o u r s e s f o r t r a i n i n g t e a c h e r s e n g a g e d in t h e f i e l d of C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s. v i i ) t o h o l d s p e c i a l t r a i n i n g c a m p s f o r t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e s t a f f o f t h e C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e I n s t i t u t e s v i i i ) t o p r e p a r e c o u r s e m a t e r i a l i>:) t o m a k e e x t e n s i v e l i b r a r y f a c i l i t i e s a v a i l a b l e to c o r r e s p o n d e n c e s t u d e n t s. >!) t o e x p l o r e t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f a s s i s t a n c e f r o m U N E S C O, I C C E ft o t h e r a l l i e d o r g a n i s a t i o n xi) t o p u b l i s h a J o u r n a l o n c o r r e s p o n d e n c e e d u c a t i o n >sii) t o e n s u r e t h e c o n t i n u e d p r o g r e s s of C o r r e s p o n d e n c e E d u c a t i o n I n s t i t u t e s t h r o u g h p r o p e r u t i l i z a t i o n o f t h e l a r g e p a r t s o f t h e s a v i n g o f t h e s e I n s t i t u t i o n s on f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t. T h e U n i v e r s i t y G r a n t s C o m m i s s i o n in D e c e m b e r, a g r e e d in p r i n c i p l e w i t h t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s o f t h e S t a n d i n g C o m m i t t e e on p a r t - t i m e e d u c a t i o n a n d c o n s t i t u t e d a P l a n n i n g C o m m i t t e e u n d e r t h e C h a i r m a n s h i p o f P r o f. R i a s A h m a d, H e a d o f t h e P G D e p a r t m e n t of P h y s i c s, A M U, A l i g a r h.

41 M e a n w h i l e t h e I n s t i t u t e s of C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s w e r e s e t u p in 2 3 U n i v e r s i t i e s t i l l a n d t h e U G C c o n v e n e d t h e m e e t ing o f t h e D i r e c t o r s o f t h e C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s in w i t h t h e v i e w o f a s s e s s i n g t h e w o r k l o a d a n d p r o b l e m s f a c e d by t h e s e I n s t i t u t e s a n d m a k e s u g g e s t i o n s f o r t h e i r i m p r o v e m e n t a n d o n t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s o f t h e D i r e c t o r s, a B p e c i a l m e e t i n g o f t h e E x p e r t C o m m i t t e e w a s c o n v e n e d in O c t o b e r, , to c o n s i d e r p r e s e n t p o s i t i o n o f C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s in d i f f e r e n t U n i v e r s i t i e s ; t h e p l a n n i n g o r g a n i s a t i o n o f t h e C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s ;p o l i c y a n d p a t t e r n o f d e v e l o p m e n t a n d n o r m s o f w o r k l o a d f o r t h e t e a c h e r s a n d r o l e of R a d i o a n d Dook D a r s h a n s u p p o r t t o c o r r e s p o n d e n c e E d u c a t i o n. S u b s e q u e n t l y a n a t i o n a l s e m i n a r o n c o r r e s p o n d e n c e e d u c a t i o n w a s h e l d in O c t, a t P a t i a l a U n i v e r s i t y. In t h r e e m o r e U n i v e r s i t i e s e s t a b l i s h e d t h e I n s t i t u t e s o f C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s. In t h e s a m e y e a r U n i v e r s i t y o f J a m m u a n d U n i v e r s i t y o f K a s h m i r e s t a b l i s h e d I n s t i t u t e o f C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s. Is3s4 A s s e s s m e n t o f P r e s e n t P o s i t i o n T h e C o r r e s p o n d e n c e E d u c a t i o n a s i t d e v e l o p e d in I n d i a is m o r e o r l e s s c o n f i n e d t o t h e t r a d i t i o n a l p a t t e r n p r e v a l e n t in o u r U n i v e r s i t i e s. A s a r e s u l t o f t h i s C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s h a v e n o t b e e n a b l e t o t a p e t h e a d v a n t a g e s a n d p o t e n t i a l i t i e s o f t h e s y s t e m o f c o r r e s p o n d e n c e e d u c a t i o n. S i n c e w e a r e n o w f a c e d w i t h s i t u a t i o n in w h i c h e d u c a t i o n h a s t o p l a y a W i d e r r o l e in r e s p o n s e t o t h e s o c i a l p r e s s u r e s a n d n a t i o n a l r e q u i r e m e n t s, t h e r e i s u r g e n t n e e d of b r i n i n g i n n o v a t i o n s in e d u c a t i o n. W e n e e d a s y s t e m w h i c h m a y h a v e s o m e b u i l t - i n e l e -

42 136 m e n t of f l e x i b i l i t y s o t h a t it m a y f r o m t i m e to t i m e a d o p t i t s e l f to n e w t r e n d s, a n d d e m a n d s of s o c i e t y. A g o o d e d u c a t i o n s y s t e m s h o u l d be c a p a b l e of m e e t i n g c h a n g i n g s o c i o - c u l t u r a l, s o c i o - t e c h - n o l o g i c a l n e e d s of t h e s o c i e t y. T h e U n i v e r s i t y c a n n o l o n g e r e x i s t in i v o r y - t o w e r s a n d t h e e l i t i s t c o n c e p t of e d u c a t i o n w i l l n o l o n g e r b e a c c e p t e d. W e a r e n o w h e a d i n g t o w a r d s an e r a o f a u t o n o m o u s l e a r n e r s w h o w i l l n o l o n g e r a c c e p t t h e t r a d i t i o n a l s p o o n f e e d i n g s y s t e m o r m e t h o d s. T h e l e a r n e r s w o u l d l i k e to m a k e t h e i r T a b l e -1 S h o w i n g I n s t i t u t e o f C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e in t h e U n i v e r s i t i e s S. N o. U n i v e r s i t i e s Y e a r o f E s t a b l i s h m e n t 1. U n i v e r s i t y o f D e l h i S C C E , P u n j a b i U n i v e r s i t y P a t i a l a, D C C U n i v e r s i t y o f R a j a s t h a n ( d i s c o n t i n u e d ) U n i v e r s i t y o f M y s o r e U n i v e r s i t y o f M e e r u t M. K. U n i v e r s i t y - M a d u r a i (ICC) H. P. U n i v e r s i t y - S i m l a (ICC) P u n j a b U n i v e r s i t y, C h a n d i g a r h (ICC) U n i v e r s i t y o f B o m b a y S. V.T i r a p a t J a m i a M i l l i a I s l a m i a - D e l h i A n d r a U n i v e r s i t y C. I. o f E n g l i s h & F o r e i g n L a n g u a g e s P a t n a U n i v e r s i t y B h o p a l U n i v e r s i t y U t k a l U n i v e r s i t y J a m m u U n i v e r s i t y K a s h m i r U n i v e r s i t y C a l i c u t U n i v e r s i t y O s m a i n i a U n i v e r s i t y A l l a h a b a d U n i v e r s i t y S N D T, U n i v e r s i t y A n n a m a l a i U n i v e r s i t y U d h a i p u r U n i v e r s i t y ( d i s c o n t i n u e d ) M a d r a s U n i v e r s i t y K a l i k u t U n i v e r s i t y

43 137 o w n c h o i c e o f w h a t t h e y w a n t t o l e a r n a n d w h e n t h e y w o u l d l i k e to learn. T h e l e a r n e r s n o w w o u l d l i k e t o s t u d y m e t h o d w h i c h w o u l d g i v e t h e m i n i t i a t i v e, i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d f l e x i b i l i t y 2 7. T h i s s i t u a t i o n o b v i o u s l y d e m a n d s a n e w p h i l o s o p h y of e d u c a t i o n a n d n e w d i r e c t i o n, a c o m p l e t e r e s t r u c t u r i n g of t h e c o n t e n t of e d u c a t i o n, a s w e l l a s t h e m e t h o d of i m p a r t i n g e d u c a t i o n. B e s i d e s, t h e t r e m e n d o u s p a c e a t w h i c h t h e k n o w l e d g e is g r o w i n g, t h e c o n t e n t of o u r e d u c a t i o n a l s y s t e m w i l l b e c o m e o b s o l e t e a n d o u t d a t e d. W e m u s t t a k e n o t e o f n e w t r e n d s, n e w t h i n k i n g, n e w v a l u e s a n d n e w c u l t u r e a m o n g t h e s t u d e n t s. T h e c h a n g e s in s o c i a l e x p e c t a t i o n s a n d l i f e s t y l e n e e d s i n n o v a t i o n s in t h e e q u a t i o n a l p a t t e r n a n d s y s t e m s. T h e f u t u r e n e e d s a n d p r o b l e m s a r e a l s o t o be b o r n e in m i n d w h i l e r e - d e f i n i n g o u r e d u c a t i o n a l s y s t e m a n d s o a s to e n s u r e s p e e d y i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f d e c i s i o n s, f o r m u l a t i o n of e f f e c t i v e s t r a t e g i e s, c o n t i n u o u s a s s e s s m e n t, r e v i s i o n o f o b j e c t i v e s, a n d t h e p r o c e s s in o r d e r t o s e e t h a t o u r e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m m e s l i v e s u p t o t h e l e v e l o f e x p e c t a t i o n s a n d c h a n g e. It c a l l s f o r p l a n n e d a n d c o n c e r t e d e f f o r t s t o b r i n g a b o u t a f r u i t f u l a c a d e m i c r e v o l u t i o n. T h e b a s i c o b j e c t i v e s o f t h e e d u c a t i o n a t d i f f e r e n t l e v e l s w i l l b e t h e s a m e b o t h f o r o n c a m p u s a n d o f f c a m p u s s y s t e m o f e d u c a t i o n. B u t g r e a t i m a g i n a t i o n a n d w i s d o m w i l l b e r e q u i r e d in d e v i s i n g a n d i m p l e m e n t i n g i n n o v a t i v e s y s t e m s o f e d u c a t i o n. N a t i o n a l o b j e c t i v e s a r e t o b e k e p t b e f o r e u s a n d n e e d s o f o u r s o c i a l o r d e r. T h e C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s a l o n e, i t i s f e l t c a n t a k e e d u c a t i o n t o t h e d o o r s t e p s o f p e o p l e. T h i s s y s t e m h a s g r e a t f u t u r e, a n d h a s p r o v e d a b o o n t o i n s e r v i c e p e o p l e w h o c o u l d n o t i m p r o v e t h e i r a c a d e m i c q u a l i f i c a t i o n s. o t h e r w i s e

44 13S IV O P E N L E A R N I N G T h e O p e n L e a r n i n g is u n d e r s t o o d a s a b r o a d t e r m w h i c h c o v e r s s e v e r a l a l t e r n a t i v e w a y s of d e l i v e r i n g l e a r n i n g. A d e l i v e r y s y s t e m h a v i n g v a r i o u s a l t e r n a t i v e m e c h a n i s m s of p r o v i d i n g l e a r n i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o i n d i v i d u a l l e a r n e r s m a y m e a n o p e n l e a r n i n g. In o p e n - l e a r n i n g r e s o u r c e s ie. m a t e r i a l s, m e t h o d s, m e d i a, e q u i p m e n t s, a c t i v i t i e s, r e s o u r c e p e r s o n s a n d p l a c e o f l e a r n i n g. T h e l e a r n e r in o p e n s i t u a t i o n s m a k e s f r e e c h o i c e o f t h e s e m e c h a n i s m of s e l f l e a r n i n g a n d d e v e l o p m e n t s. T h e o p e n l e a r n i n g i s i n d e p e n d e n c e in l e a r n i n g. T h e m a i n t h i n g i s t h a t l e a r n e r s n e e d s a n d c i r c u m s t a n c e s a r e p a r a m o u n t a n d d e t e r m i n e t h e s y s t e m t o b e u s e d in e a c h i n s t a n c e. O p e n l e a r n i n g r e d u c e s o r r e m o v e s b a r r i e r s t o a c c e s s a n d p r o g r e s s a n d o f f e r s a c h o i c e o f c o n t e n t t o s u i t t h e s t u d e n t s n e e d s. It a l s o p r o v i d e s t h e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r t h e s t u d e n t t o l e a r n a t a p a c e, t i m e a n d p l a c e w h i c h s u i t s t o s t u d e n t s c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d r e q u i r e m e n t s 2. T h u s t h e d e c i s i o n m a k i n g p o w e r s in t h e o p e n l e a r n i n g s y s t e m i s v e s t e d w i t h t h e l e a r n e r t h a n in h a n d s o f t e a c h e r o r e d u c a t i o n a d m i n i s t r a t o r 2 9. S o t h e l e a r n e r i s a u t o n o m o u s in s e t t i n g t h e l e a r n i n g o b j e c t i v e s, m e t h o d s o f s t u d y a n d e v a l u a t i o n. A s f a r a s O p e n L e a r n i n g a n d D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n i s c o n c e r n e d, t h e r e e x i s t a l o t o f c o n f u s i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e s y n o n y m o u s u s e of t h e s e t e r m s. D i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n i n s t i t u t i o n s m a y s h a r e a l o t of c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e o p e n l e a r n i n g, b u t t h e y m a y n o t r e p r e s e n t t h e o p e n l e a r n i n g s y s t e m in t o t a l i t y. H o w e v e r, a d v a n c e d f o r m of d i s t a n c e l e a r n i n g i s v e r y n e a r t o o p e n l e a r n i n g, b u t i s n o t s i m i

45 13 9 lar to o p e n l e a r n i n g - T h e D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n m o d e l s c a n be t r e a t ed a s a k i n d o f o p e n l e a r n i n g b u t n o t o p e n l e a r n i n g in i t s e l f. K e e p i n g in v i e w t h e i m p o r t a n c e of o p e n l e a r n i n g, t h e i d e a of O p e n U n i v e r s i t y in I n d i a w a s m o o t e d in T h e U n i v e r s i t y B r a n t s C o m m i s s i o n h a d a p p o i n t e d w o r k i n g g r o u p on O p e n U n i v e r s i t y u n d e r t h e C h a i r m a n s h i p of G. P a r a t h a s a r t h y in T h e f i r s t O p e n U n i v e r s i t y in I n d i a w a s e s t a b l i s h e d in t h e y e a r 1982 in A n d r a P r a d e s h. D u r i n g 1985, t h e I n d r a G a n d h i N a t i o n a l O p e n U n i v e r s i t y w a s e s t a b l i s h e d by a s p e c i a l A c t o f t h e P a r l i a m e n t. S u b s e q u e n t l y t h r e e S t a t e O p e n U n i v e r s i t i e s w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d v i z K o t a O p e n U n i v e r s i t y, R a j a s t h a n (1987), N a l a n d a O p e n U n i v e r s i t y, B i h a r, (1988), Y. B. C h a v a n O p e n U n i v e r s i t y, M a h r a s h t r a (1989). T h e S t a t e U n i v e r s i t i e s w e r e c o o r d i n a t e d by I n d r a - G a n d h i N a t i o n a l O p e n U n i - v e r s i t y. l:4sl I n d r a G a n d h i N a t i o n a l O p e n U n i v e r s i t y T h e I G N O U h a s b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d t o d i s s e m i n a t e a n d a d v a n c e l e a r n i n g a n d k n o w l e d g e in d i v e r s i f i e d w a y s. T h e m a i n o b j e c t i v e s of t h e I G N O U a r e : i) P r o v i d i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n t o l a r g e s e g m e n t s o f p o p u l a t i o n a n d s e e k s to a c h i e v e t h e w e l l b e i n g s o f t h e c o m m u n i t y ; e d u c a t i o n a l ii) P r o m o t i n g c o n c e p t o f d i s t a n c e l e a r n i n g, b y c o o r d i n a t i n g a n d s t a n d a r d i s i n g t h e d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n s y s t e m s t h r o u g h o u t c o u n t r y, t h e

46 iii) P r o v i d i n g a c c e s s t o h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n t o t h e g r o u p s a n d i n d i v i d u a l s ; d i s a d v a n t a g e o u s i v ) B r i n g i n g H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n t o t h e d o o r s t e p s of a l 1 t h o s e w h o l o o k f o r it, v) P r o m o t i n g n a t i o n a l i n t e g r a t i o n a n d i n t e g r a t e d d e v e l o p m e n t of h u m a n p e r s o n a l i t y, vi) P r o v i d i n g h i g h q u a l i t y e d u c a t i o n a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y l e v e l. T h e I Q N O U, h a s j u r i s d i c t i o n all o v e r t h e c o u n t r y, a n d i t s m a i n f e a t u r e s a r e r e l a x a t i o n in a d m i s s i o n t o t h e c o u r s e s, u s e of M o d e r n T e c h n o l o g y i n i n s t r u c t i o n s, s o u n d s t u d e n t s u p p o r t s e r v i c e s a n d c o m p r e h e n s i v e e v a l u a t i o n s c h e m e. T h e O p e n U n i v e r s i t y o c c u p i e s u n i q u e p o s i t i o n in D i s t a n c e E q u a t i o n b e c a u s e o f i t s i n d e p e n d e n t a n d a u t o n o m o u s c h a r a c t e r ; t h e I G N O U, h a s b e e n a l r e a d y o f f e r i n g c o u r s e s l e a d i n g t o C e r t i f i c a t e s, D i p l o m a s a n d D e g r e e s in A r t s, S c i e n c e, H o m e S c i e n c e, M a n a g e m e n t D i s t a n c e E q u a t i o n, R u r a l D e v e l o p m e n t a n d c o m p u t e r T e c h n o l o g y. I G N O U a d o p t s M u l t i - M e d i a i n s t r u c t i o n a l s y s t e m i n c l u d i n g P r i n t B a s e d c o u r s e m a t e r i a l, A u d i o v i d e o p r o g r a m m e s, T e l e c a s t p r o g r a m m e s, c o m p u t e r b a s e d a c t i v i t i e s, c o u n s e l i n g s e s s i o n s a n d p r a c t i c a l s. T h e d e s i g n o f i n s t r u c t i o n a l s y s t e m o f I G N O U i s p r e s e n t e d i n t h e T a b l e - I. S e l f i n s t r u c t i o n a l P r i n t m a t e r i a l f o r m s t h e c o r e o f i n s t r u c t i o n a l p r o c e s s. T h e m a t e r i a l i s p r o d u c e d in m o d u l a r f o r m s, s u p p l e m e n t e d b y A u d i o - V i d e o c a s s e t t e s, T V p r o g r a m m e s i s a n e x c e p t i o n a l

47 141 f e a t u r e of t h e I G N O U. S i m i l a r l y s t u d e n t c o u n s e l i n g s e s s i o n s a r e a r r a n g e d in t h e S t u d y C e n t r e s. M a n a g e m e n t of t h e I n s t r u c t i o n a l S y s t e m of I G N O U, f o l l o w s t h e f o l l o w i n g s t e p s a s s h o w n in t h e F i g u r e I, i.e. t h e p r o g r a m e s a r e s t a r t e d o n t h e b a s i s of n e e d s a n d e x p e r t v i e w s. T h e e x p e r t c o m m i t t e e s d e v e l o p b r o a d c u r r i c u l a r o u t l i n e s, t h e n c o u r s e t e a m s a r e f o r m e d of w r i t e r s, s u b j e c t - e d i. t o r s, t e a c h e r s, e t c. T h e p r i n t b a s e d m a t e r i a l s a r e t h e n p r o c e s s e d a n d p r o d u c e d by M a t e r i a l P r o d u c t i o n D i v i s i o n,t h e n A u d i o / V i d e o m a t e r i a l s a r e d e v e l o p e d a n d t h e n s e n t to t h e R e g i o n a l C e n t r e s, a n d S t u d e n t S t u d y C e n t r e s f o r d i s t r i b u t i o n. B r o a d f e a t u r e s of t h e f o u r O p e n U n i v e r s i t i e s n a m e l y I G N O U, B. R. A m b e d k a r O p e n U n i v e r s i t y, H y d e r a b a d, Y. C. M a h r a s h t r a O p e n U n i v e r s i t y, K o t a - O p e n U n i v e r s i t y, a r e g i v e n in t h e t a b l e t o h a v e an o v e r v i e w o f t h e s y s t e m. T h e m a g n i t u d e o f t h e o p e r a t i o n s c a n be n o t e d f r o m t h e n u m b e r of p r o g r a m m m e s a n d c o u r s e s o f f e r e d by t h e s e U n i v e r s i t i e s a n d t h e t o t a l e n r o l m e n t of t h e l e a r n e r s. T h e a n n u a l s t u d e n t e n r o l m e n t o f t h e s e F o u r O p e n U n i v e r s i t i e s is 2, in , w i t h c u m u l a t i v e e n r o l l m e n t o f 5, 7 1, T h e s e U n i v e r s i t i e s h a v e e s t a b l i s h e d a w i d e n e t w o r k of s t u d y c e n t r e s R e g i o n a l C e n t r e s, f o r p r o v i d i n g s t u d e n t s u p p o r t s e r v i c e s. A r o u n d 2 0 t h o u s a n d A c a d e m i c C o u n s e l o r s a r e e n g a g e d b y t h e U n i v e r s i t i e s t o p r o v i d e t u t o r i a l a n d c o u n s e l i n g s e r v i c e s to l e a r n e r s. T h e c o u n s e l o r s a r e m o s t l y f u l t i m e a c a d e m i c s o f t h e C o n v e n t i o n a l S y s t e m, a n d t a k e u p t h i s a s s i g n m e n t o n p a r t t i m e b a s i s. T h e O p e n U n i v e r s i t i e s a r e a l s o e n g a g i n g f u l l t i m e a c a d e m i c, p r o f e s s i o n a l, a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a n d t e c h n i c a l s t a f f t o m a n a g e t h e s y s t e m. T h e t o t a l s t a f f e n g a g e d by t h e s e U n i v e r s i t i e s o n t h e f u l l - t i m e b a s i s is o f w h i c h a r e a c a d e m i c. T h e f o u r O p e n U n i v e r s i t i e s t o g e t h e r a r e o f f e r i n g p r o g r a m m e s, a n d B 4 1 c o u r s e s o f c o n v e n t i o n a l a n d n o n - c o n v e n t i o n -

48 142 al p o s t - g r a d u a t e a n d r e s e a r c h l e v e l p r o g r a m m e s in g e n e r a l,p r o f e s s i o n, t e c h n i c a l a n d v o c a t i o n a l a r e a s.s c i e n c e p r o g r a m e s t o o h a v e b e e n s t a r t e d by O p e n U n i v e r s i t i e s. T h e d e t a i l s of s o m e o f t h e f e a t u r e s of t h e O p e n U n i v e r s i t i e s a r e g i v e n in T a b l e - I I. A l l t h e O p e n U n i v e r s i t i e s h a v e p l a n s t o d i v e r s i f y t h e i r a c a d e m i c p r o g r a m m e s t o m e e t s o c i a l a n d d e v e l o p m e n t a l n e e d s of t h e c o u n t r y. T h e c u r s o r y l o o k a t t h e f u t u r e p r o g r a m m e s of t h e s e U n i v e r s i t i e s i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e i r t h r u s t i s o n t e c h n i c a l a n d v o c a t i o n al p r o g r a m m e s. T h e O p e n U n i v e r s i t i e s a r e a l s o d e v e l o p i n g s k i l l a n d a p p l i c a t i o n o r i e n t e d p r o g r a m m e s.

49 143 V 1 : 5 : 1 D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n in J & K - ft P r o f i l e T h e U n i v e r s i t y of J a m m u a n d t h e U n i v e r s i t y of K a s h m i r s i m u l t a n e o u s l y s t a r t e d I n s t i t u t e s of C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s in T h e I n s t i t u t e of C o r r e s p o n d e n c e c o u r s e s, U n i v e r s i t y o f K a s h m i r, c o n t i n u e d t o w o r k a s t h e I n s t i t u t e o f C o r r e s p o n d e n c e E d u c a t i o n u p t o In p u r s u a n c e o f t h e g u i d e l i n e s o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y G r a n t s C o m m i s s i o n, t h e U n i v e r s i t y of K a s h m i r, h a s t h e d i s t i n c t i o n of a c o n s t i t u t i o n o f f i r s t F a c u l t y of N o n - F o r m a l E d u c a t i o n in t h e c o u n t r y. T h e I n s t i t u t e of C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s w a s r e n a m e d as t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n. T h e F a c u l t y d o f N o n - F o r m a l E d u c a t i o n c o m p r i s e s o f D e p a r t m e n t of D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n S t a t e R e s o u r c e C e n t r e a n d D i r e c t o r a t e of A d u l t a n d C o n t i n u i n g E d u c a t i o n a n d E x t e n s i o n. T h e D e p a r t m e n t o f D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n e n j o y s t h e s t a t u s o f a D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y a n d e n j o y s a l l s u c h f a c i l i t i e s a n d p r i v i l e g e s w h i c h a r e a v a i l a b l e i n a n y o t h e r D e p a r t m e n t. T h i s h a s e n a b l e d t h e D e p a r t m e n t t o d e s i g n i t s o w n c u r r i c u l u m d e v e l o p i t s o w n p r o g r a m m e s a n d i m p l e m e n t t h e s e w i t h o u t s u f f e r i n g t h e r i g o r o u s p r o c e d u r e s o f f o r m a l E d u c a t i o n s y s t e m. T h e D e p a r t m e n t o f D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n h a s b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h f o l l o w i n g o b j e c t i v e s in v i e w : i) T o p r o v i d e e d u c a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s to t h o s e w h o c o u l d n o t b e a c c o m m o d a t e d in t h e I n s t i t u t i o n s o f h i g h e r l e a r n i n g ; ii) T o e n s u r e e q u a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s o f e d u c a t i o n f o r p e o p l e i n e m p l o y m e n t, w o m e n, i n c l u d i n g h o u s e w i v e s a n d a d u l t s

50 144 w h o w i s h e s t o u p - g r a d e t h e i r e d u c a t i o n ; i i i ) T o p r o v i d e i n s t r u c t i o n s in w i d e r a n g e o f g e n e r a l a n d s p e c i a l s u b j e c t s } i v ) T o m a k e a v a i l a b l e f o r b o t h p r e a n d i n s e r v i c e s e r v i c e t r a i n i n g o f t e a c h e r s a t all l e v e l s of e d u c a t i o n ; v) T o c o m p l e m e n t t h e p r o g r a m m e s o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y of K a s h m i r in t h e f i e l d of h i g h e r l e a r n i n g s o a s to m a i n t a i n h i g h e r s t a n d a r d s o n a t p a r w i t h U n i v e r s i t y ; v i ) T o o f f e r d e g r e e s a n d n o n - d e g r e e c e r t i f i c a t e s c o u r s e s f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f w o r k i n g p o p u l a t i o n in v a r i o u s f i e l d s ; v i i ) T o m a k e p r o v i s i o n f o r r e s e a r c h a n d f o r t h e a d v a n c e m e n t a n d d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f k n o w l e d g e ; T h e s e o b j e c t i v e s m a k e i t c l e a r t h a t D e p a r t m e n t o f D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n i s e x p e c t e d t o p l a y a k e y r o l e in d e m o c r a t i z a t i o n o f h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n in t h e S t a t e o f J a m m u a n d K a s h m i r, b y p r o v i d i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s h i t h e r t o n e g l e c t e d s e c t i o n s o f s o c i e t y. A d h e r i n g s t r i c t l y t o i t s f r a m e o f b a s i c o b l i g a t i o n s, t h e D e p a r t m e n t of D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n h a s d e v e l o p e d r a p i d l y i n t o a s u c c e s s f u l n o n - f o r m a l c o u n t e r p a r t o f t h e a l r e a d y e x i s t i n g s y s t e m o f f o r m a l e d u c a t i o n. A c a d e m i c P r o g r a m m e s! P r e s e n t l y D e p a r t m e n t o f D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n, U n i v e r s i t y of K a s h m i r i s o f f e r i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g a c a d e m i c p r o g r a m m e s :

51 145 i) P o s t - g r a d u a t e p r o g r a m m e s in U r d u, E c o n o m i c s, C o m m e r c e a n d M a t h e m a t i c s l e a d i n g to M. A. / M. S c. / M. C o m. d e g r e e s ii) T e a c h e r s T r a i n i n g P r o g r a m m e l e a d i n g to B. E d. i i i ) T w o y e a r s L L.B. p r o g r a m m e s l e a d i n g t o D e g r e e of L L. B. ( A c a d e m i c ) iv) U n d e r - g r a d u a t e C o u r s e s in A r t s, S o c i a l s c i e n c e a n d c o m m e r c e l e a d i n g to B. A. / B. C o m D e g r e e s v) O n e y e a r c e r t i f i c a t e c o u r s e in L i b r a r y a n d I n f o r m a t i o n S c i e n c e s v i ) C e r t i f i c a t e c o u r s e in H i n d i a n d U r d u. T h e D e p a r t m e n t p r o p o s e s t o l a u n c h P o s t - g r a d u a t e p r o g r a m m e s in P o l i t i c a l S c i e n c e, S o c i o l o g y a n d E d u c a t i o n. T h e D e p a r t m e n t a l s o p r o p o s e s t o l a u n c h s o m e D i p l o m a C o u r s e s w i t h D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n s t r a t e g i e s. T h e c o u r s e s in p i p e l i n e a r e T r a v e l a n d T o u r s, B a n k i n g a n d I n s u r a n c e, H u m a n R e s o u r c e D e v e l o p m e n t, L a b o u r L a w s a n d P e r s o n al M a n a g e m e n t a n d P r e - s c h o o l E d u c a t i o n. B e t h a t a s it m a y, t h e p r e s e n t p r o f i l e o f t h e c o u r s e s r u n by t h e D e p a r t m e n t of D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n i n d i c a t e s t h a t D e p a r t m e n t i s j u s t s u p p l e m e n t i n g t h e f o r m a l s y s t e m o f e d u c a t i o n. It i s j u s t n o t t h e l o t o f D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n p o l i c i e s. I n f a c t a l l t h e I n s t i t u t i o n s o f C o r r e s p o n d e n c e C o u r s e s a n d D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n a l l o v e r

52 146 t h e c o u n t r y a r e p e r f o r m i n g t h e s a m e s u p p l e m e n t a r y r o l e. H o w e v e r t h e r e i s d i r e n e e d t o p o n d e r o v e r t h e m a t t e r a n d c o n s i d e r t h e i s s u e. Is n o t t h e D e p a r t m e n t w o r k i n g a g a i n s t t h e v e r y p h i l o s o p h y of d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n? M e t h o d o l o g y a n d O p e r a t i o n s T h e D e p a r t m e n t o f D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n e m p l o y e e s a n u m b e r of t e c h n i q u e s a n d m e t h o d s t o p r o v i d e i n p u t s t o d i s t a n c e l e a r n e r. T h e i n s t r u c t i o n a l s y s t e m c o m p r i s e s t h e f o l l o w i n g e s s e n t i a l c o m p o n e n t s : i) S t u d y m a t e r i a l w h i c h a r e m a i l e d to t h e l e a r n e r s a c c o r d i n g to t h e s c h e d u l e s ii) P e r s o n a l C o n t a c t P r o g r a m m e s / T u t o r i a l s e s s i o n s w h i c h p r o v i d e s t u d e n t s p e r i o d i c o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o m e e t t e a c h e r s ; i i i ) S t u d e n t s A s s i g n m e n t s, c o n s t i t u t e t h e e s s e n t i a l h o m e w o r k t o b e s u b m i t t e d t o t h e t u t o r a f t e r r e g u l a r i n t e r v a l s f o r a s s e s s m e n t ; iv) R a d i o l e c t u r e s o n w e e k l y b a s i s, f r o m R a d i o - K a s h m i r S r i n a g a r ; v) A u d i o - c a s s e t t e s o n g e n e r a l t o p i c a r e b e i n g p r o c u r e d t o s u p p l e m e n t t h e s t u d y m a t e r i a l. T h e T V p r o g r a m m e s f r o m S r i n a g a r D o o r - D a r s h a n a r e b e i n g t e l e c a s t e d s o o n.

53 1:5:2 Organisational Structure of nnr A b i r d ' s e y e v i e w s o f t h e o r g a n i s a t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e of D D E i n d i c a t e s a s t a b l e f u n c t i o n i n g of t h e D e p a r t m e n t. T h e l a r g e s c a l e l o g i s t i c s i n v o l v e d in t h e m a n a g e m e n t a n d o p e r a t i o n o f d i s t a n c e l e a r n i n g s y s t e m e x t r a c t s a c o m p l e x b u t e f f i c i e n t o r g a n i s a t i o n. T h e o r g a n i s a t i o n o f d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n, c a n b e c o n v e n i e n t l y g r o u p e d i n t o t h r e e h e a d s, n a m e l y j A c a d e m i c, S u p p o r t s e r v i c e s a n d A d m i n i s t r a t i o n. T h e A c a d e m i c D e p a r t m e n t is m a i n l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h p l a n n i n g a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f s t u d y m a t e r i a l s a n d c o o r d i n a t e s t h e c o u r s e s b e i n g o f f e r e d. T h e S e r v i c e D e p a r t m e n t i n c l u d e s m a i l i n g s e c t i o n, s t u d y c e n t r e s, c o u r s e p r o d u c t i o n a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n. T h e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e s e c t i o n, l o o k s a f t e r t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t. T h e C h a i r m a n o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t o c c u p i e s t h e a p e x p o s i t i o n w i t h d u a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a n d a c a d e m i c a c t i v i t i e s. T h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e s i d e i s f u r t h e r s u b - d i v i d e d w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e p o s i t i o n o f A s s i s t a n t R e g i s t r a r, S e c t i o n O f f i c e r s, a n d o t h e r s u b o r d i n a t e s t a f f l i k e s t e n o - t y p i s t, A s s i s t a n t I n c h a r g e e t c. T h e A c a d e m i c s t a f f o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t t a k e t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s of i n s t r u c t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s o f r e s p e c t i v e s u b j e c t s a t P Q a n d U S L e v e l. T h e h i e r a r c h i c a l p o s i t i o n o f t h e D D E t e a c h i n g s t a f f c a n be r e a d a s P r o f e s s o r, R e a d e r s a n d S e n i o r L e c t u r e r s a n d l e c t u r e r s. M o r e o v e r, t h e m a j o r r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f a c a d e m i c f u n c t i o n s o f D D E a r e l i n k e d w i t h t h e d i f f e r e n t b o d i e s o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y l i k e A c a d e m i c C o u n c i l, B o a r d s o f S t u d i e s a n d U n i v e r s i t y t e a c h i n g d e p a r t m e n t s. A l s o D D E, s e e k s c o o p e r a t i o n f r o m t e a c h i n g s t a f f o f o t h e r U n i v e r s i t i e s, C o l l e g e s a n d D i s t r i c t I n s t i t u t e s o f E d u c a t i o n s, in m a n a g i n g i n s t r u c t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s. T h e t a b l e - I s h o w s t h e o r g a n i s a t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e o f t h e D D E. T a b l e II s h o w s t h e p r o p o s e d o r g a n i s a t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e o f t h e D D E.

54 148 T h e D e p a r t m e n t h a s s m a l l c o r e a c a d e m i c s t a f f - T h e t e a c h i n g s t a f f is t r e a t e d a t p a r w i t h t h e t e a c h i n g f a c u l t y of t h e U n i v e r s i 1 i 5 i 3 T h e s t u d e n t s Q u i t e u n d e r s t a n d a b l y, t h e c o m p l e x i o n of t h e D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n s t u d e n t p o p u l a t i o n i s v e r y h e t e r o g e n e o u s - P e o p l e f r o m d i f f e r e n t a g e g r o u p s a n d p r o f e s s i o n s, i l l i t e r a t e, a d u l t s, h o u s e b o u n d w o m e n, e m p l o y e d y o u t h, e t c r e g i s t e r f o r c o u r s e s o f f e r e d by t h e D e p a r t m e n t. T h e e n r o l l m e n t g e n e r a l l y i s l a r g e a n d f a r e x c e e d s t h e t o t a l a n n u a l e n r o l l m e n t w i t h a l l a c a d e m i c d e p a r t m e n t s o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y. T h i s n o d o u b t r e f l e c t s t h e w i d e p o p u l a r i t y o f D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m m e s. T h e a g e of s t u d e n t p o p u l a t i o n r a n g e s f r o m 20 t o 60 w i t h y e a r s of a g e g r o u p b e i n g t h e l a r g e s t. T h e t a b l e III s h o w s t h e y e a r w i s e e n r o l l m e n t o f t h e c a n d i d a t e s f o r t h e p a s t 5 y e a r s. T a b l e III S u b j e c t s Y e a r E n r o l l m e n t M a l e F e m a l e M. A. ( E c o n o m i c s ) M. A. ( U r d u ) M. C o m B. E d L L. B U. G. B A / B C o m C. L i b. I n f o r

55 149 1:5:4 S t u d e n t S u p p o r t S e r v i c e T h e D e p a r t m e n t of D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n h a s e n v i s a g e d a s t r o n g n e t w o r k o f S t u d y C e n t r e s t o b e e s t a b l i s h e d in all d i s t r i c t s of t h e J a m m u a n d K a s h m i r S t a t e. T w o S t u d y C e n t r e s h a v e b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d a t L e h a n d K a r g i l in L a d a k h r e g i o n O n e C e n t r e i s o p e r a - t i o n a l in J a m m u a n d t h r e e C e n t r e s a r e f u n c t i o n a l in S r i n a g a r, I s l a m a b a d, B a r a m u l l a a n d P u l w a m a. T h e s e C e n t r e s a r e p r e s e n t l y h o u s e d in G o v t. S c h o o l s a n d C o l l e g e s. T h e s e C e n t r e s a r e to b e m a d e i n d e p e n d e n t, e q u i p p e d w i t h l i b r a r y, A u d i o - v i d e o f a c i l i t y f o r t h e b e n e f i t of t h e l e a r n e r s. T h e t a b l e IV a n d t a b l e V s h o w t h e p r e s e n t a n d p r o p o s e d p r o f i l e o f s t u d e n t s u p p o r t s e r v i c e. I s 5 : 5 E v a l u a t i o n T h e D e p a r t m e n t a d o p t s b o t h c o n t i n u o u s e v a l u a t i o n a n d y e a r e n d e x a m i n a t i o n f o r a s s e s s i n g t h e p e r f o r m a n c e of t h e l e a r n e r s. T h e s t u d e n t s a r e c o n t i n u o u s l y a s s e s s e d t h r o u g h t h e a s s i g n m e n t s. T h e r e s u l t s o f t h e a s s i g n m e n t s a r e u t i l i z e d o n l y f o r h e l p i n g t h e s t u d e n t s in i m p r o v i n g t h e i r l e a r n i n g. T h e f i n a l g r a d e in e a c h c o u r s e i s g i v e n o n t h e b a s i s of y e a r e n d e x a m i n a t i o n. T a b l e VI a n d T a b l e V I I s h o w s t h e p r e s e n t p r o f i l e o f D e s i g n o f i n s t r u c t i o n s, e v o l u t i o n a n d e x a m i n a t i o n. A t p r e s e n t t h e D D E f u n c t i o n s in o n e o f s m a l l w o o d e n b a r r a c k l o c a t e d in t h e N a s e e m B a g h C a m p u s o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f K a s h m i r, T h e p r e s e n t a c c o m m o d a t i o n i s i n a d e q u a t e, t h e p r o v i d e s p a c e f o r, 1 i b r a r y c u m - R e a d i n g r o o m, c o n d u c t o f P e r s o n a l C o n t a c t P r o g r a m m e s, S t u d y C e n t r e s, E l e c t r o n i c M e d i a, a n d C o m p u t e r. T h e D e p a r t m e n t u r g e n t l y r e q u i r e s a n e w c o m p l e x t o a c c o m m o d a t e L e s s o n s t o r e s, L i b r a r y, A u d i o - v i d e o f a c i l i t i e s e t c.

56 B - A d m i s s i o n a n d R u l e s of N a t u r a l J u s t i c e I N T R O D U C T I O N T h e s t u d e n t s a r e t h e m a i n b e n e f i c i a r i e s of t h e e d u c a t i o n ' i n s t i t u t i o n s '. T h e n u m b e r o f s t u d e n t s s e e k i n g a d m i s s i o n h a s b e e n i n c r e a s i n g y e a r a f t e r y e a r, p u t t i n g t r e m e n d o u s p r e s s u r e on e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s. T h o s e w h o d o n o t g e t t h e a d m i s s i o n e a s i l y r e s o r t t o t h e j u d i c i a l a c t i o n s. T h e s t u d e n t c o m m u n i t y h a s b e e n by f a r t h e l a r g e s t c o n t r i b u t o r t o t h e C o u r t l i t i g a t i o n s in e d u c a t i o n al m a t t e r s. T h e c a s e s o n e d u c a t i o n h a s c e n t r e d r o u n d t w o m a i n p r o b l e m s, n a m e l y a d m i s s i o n a n d e x a m i n a t i o n. T h e r e h a s b e e n i n c r e a s i n g c u r v e of c a s e s f r o m t h e y e a r t o d a t e in t h i s a r e a. T h e y e a r w i t n e s s e d t h e m a x i m u m n u m b e r of c a s e s d e c i d e d by t h e H i g h C o u r t s, a n d S u p r e m e C o u r t. In l a r g e n u m b e r of c a s e s d e c i d e d by t h e C o u r t s o n c o n t e n t i o n s of r e s e r v a t i o n s, p r e f e r e n c e o r w e i g h t a g e in f a v o u r of o n e c a t e g o r y o r o t h e r. In S u p r e m e C o u r t s a n d H i g h C o u r t s w e r e c a l l e d u p o n t o a d j u d i c a t e o n t h e m a t t e r p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e a d m i s s i o n t o t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l c o u r s e s a n d p o s t - g r a d u a t e c o u r s e s. T h e a d m i s s i o n t o a c o l l e g e o r a U n i v e r s i t y o p e n f u t u r e p r o s p e c t s f o r f u r t h e r e d u c a t i o n o r j o b s. T h e r e a r e c e r t a i n s p e c i a l i z e d b r a n c h e s w h e r e n u m b e r o f s e a t s i s l i m i t e d. T h i s r e s u l t s in a g r e a t r u s h f o r a d m i s s i o n t o t h e s e c o u r s e s o r i n s t i t u t i o n s. M o s t o f t h e c a s e s r e l a t e t o a d m i s s i o n s i n M e d i c a l C o l l e g e s a n d in S c i e n c e c o u r s e s a t p o s t - g r a d u a t e l e v e l. T h e S t a t u t e s g o v e r n i n g t h e A d m i s s i o n a r e p r o v i d e d in C h a p t e r V of t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f K a s h m i r a n d J a m m u A c t, S t a t u t e s 5 to d e a l w i t h A d m i s s i o n o f t h e s t u d e n t s t o C o l l e g e s, U n i v e r s i t y

57 151 D e p a r t m e n t s a n d o t h e r r e c o g n i s e d I n s t i t u t i o n s. A s far a s the a d m i s s i o n t o t h e c o u r s e s to D e p a r t m e n t of D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n is c o n c e r n e d, t h e A d m i s s i o n s h a l l be g o v e r n e d by t h e S t a t u t e s p r e s c r i b e d u n d e r C h a p t e r V o f t h e A c t, a n d S t a t u t e 5. 3 <ix) r e a d s as u n d e r s A d m i s s i o n t o s t u d e n t s to v a r i o u s c o u r s e s in t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n s h a l l b e c o m p l e t e d by s u c h d a t e s a s t h e V i c e - c h a n c e l l o r m a y d i r e c t. T h u s t h e S t a t u t e s of t h e U n i v e r s i t y r e g a r d i n g a d m i s s i o n p o l i c y in t h e D e p a r t m e n t of D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n a r e s a m e a s a r e p r o v i d e d in C h a p t e r V o f t h e A c t. It m e a n s t h e D e p a r t m e n t h a s to f o l l o w s a m e r u l e s, a n d g u i d e l i n e s f o r a d m i s s i o n to d i f f e r e n t c o u r s e s, a s a r e p r e s c r i b e d by t h e U n i v e r s i t y f o r t h e r e g u l a r, on c a m p u s s t u d e n t s. T h e a d m i s s i o n r u l e s, e l i g i b i l i t y c r i t e r i a e t c r e m a i n t h e s a m e. A l t h o u g h in c o m p a r i s o n to t h e a d m i s s i o n p o l i c i e s of r e g u l a r c o u r s e s, a t p o s t - g r a d u a t e a n d undei g r a d u a t e l e v e l, l e n i e n c y c a n b e w i t n e s s e d in c o r r e s p o n d e n c e c o u r s e s w i t h r e g a r d to t h e i n t a k e c a p a c i t y. T h u s t h e p r o b l e m s f a c e d by t h e U n i v e r s i t y r e m a i n s s a m e a s a r e f a c e d by o t h e r u n i v e r s i t i e s in t h i s a r e a. L e t u s l e g a l l y e x a m i n e t h e m in d e t a i l. 1:1 E l i o i b i l i t v C r i t e r i a In o r d e r t o g e t a d m i s s i o n t o a U n i v e r s i t y o r a C o l l e g e, t h e c a n d i d a t e m u s t b e e l i g i b l e t o a p p l y f o r a d m i s s i o n. T h e e l i g i b i l i t y r e q u i r e m e n t i s f i x e d by t h e s t a t u t e o r b y a r u l e m a d e t h e r e u n d e r 3 0. T h e C o l l e g e o r U n i v e r s i t y o r G o v e r n m e n t m a y t h r o u g h a d m i n i s t r a t i v e i n s t r u c t i o n s a l s o l a y d o w n s o m e a d d i t i o n a l r e q u i r e m e n t s o v e r a n d a b o v e t h e p r e s c r i b e d m i n i m u m. T h e a c t i o n of t h e

58 152 a u t h o r i t i e s m a y b e c h a l l e n g e d e i t h e r o n t h e g r o u n d t h a t e l i g i b i l i ty r e q u i r e m e n t s w e r e v i o l a t i v e of t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o r u l t r a - v i r u s, t h e i r p o w e r s o r t h a t t h e y d e v i a t e d f r o m p r e s c r i b e d q u a l i f i c a t i o n s. W h e r e t h e t e s t of e l i g i b i l i t y of a d m i s s i o n s is t h e p a s s i n g o f H i g h e r S e c o n d a r y C e r t i f i c a t e E x a m i n a t i o n, a s t u d e n t w h o h a s p a s s e d t h a t e x a m i n a t i o n in a n y y e a r m u s t be r e g a r d e d as e l i g i b l e ". t h o u g h s o m e o t h e r H i g h C o u r t s h a v e t a k e n d i f f e r e n t v i e w o n t h e s u b j e c t 3 -*-. In a l e a d i n g c a s e of D e v a S i n g h V K u r u k s h e - t r a U n i v e r s i t y "'1, a s t u d e n t w a s d e n i e d a d m i s s i o n o n t h e g r o u n d t h a t h e h a d i n d u l g e d in d i s c i p l i n e a n d q u e s t i o n a b l e b e h a v i o u r, t h o u g h h e f u l f i l l e d t h e p r e s c r i b e d q u a l i f i c a t i o n s f o r a d m i s s i o n. It w a s h e l d s " t h a t a u t h o r i t i e s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a d m i s s i o n h a v e in t h e a b s e n c e o f r e l e v a n t r u l e o r r e g u l a t i o n s t h e i n h e r e n t r i g h t to r e f u s e a d m i s s i o n t o a e l i g i b l e c a n d i d a t e if t h e a d m i t t i n g a u t h o r i t i e s a r e s a t i s f i e d t h a t he i s n o t d e s i r a b l e p e r s o n in t h e s e n s e t h a t h e is l i k e l y t o i n d u l g e in u n d e s i r a b l e a c t i v i t i e s c r e a t e p r o b l e m s of in d i s c i p l i n e a n d l a w a n d o r d e r f o r t h e e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n." In M a n M o h a n V S t a t e " ' ^ i T h e P u n j a b U n i v e r s i t y a m e n d e d i t s s t a t u t e s a n d p r o v i d e d t h e f o l l o w i n g m i n i m u m q u a l i f i c a t i o n s f o r t h e a d m i s s i o n t o M. B. B. S c o u r s e. " P r e - M e d i c a l w i t h 50'/. M a r k s in e s s e n t i a l s u b j e c t s o r M. S c. o r B. S c. w i t h 6 0 % M a r k s in e s s e n t i a l s u b j e c t s p r o v i d e d t h e p r e - M e d i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n t o o w a s p a s s e d w i t h f i r s t d i v i s i o n w i t h a t l e a s t 6 0 V. m a r k s ". T h i s e l i g i b i l i t y c r i t e r i a w a s c h a l l e n g e d by t h e B. S c. d e g r e e h o l d e r s o n t h e g r o u n d t h a t e l i g i b i l i t y c o n d i t i o n s w a s

59 153 v i o l a t i v e of A r t i c l e of t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n. T h i s c o n d i t i o n w a s i n c o r p o r a t e d b y t h e g o v e r n m e n t in v i e w of t h e f a c t t h a t s " B. S c. c a n d i d a t e s h a v e g a i n e d u n d u e p r e - p o n d e r a n c e o v e r t h o s e w h o h a v e p a s s e d P r e - M e d i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n. " T h e P u n j a b a n d H a r y a n a H i g h C o u r t d e c l a r e d i m p u g n e d i n n o v a t i o n a s v i o l a t i o n o f A r t i c l e o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n. T h e C o u r t h e l d t h a t p r e s e n t d i s c r i m i n a t i o n h a s n o r e a s o n a b l e n e x u s o r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h o b j e c t of a d m i t t i n g t h e b e s t s t u d e n t s t o t h e M. B. B. S. c o u r s e., T h e C o u r t o b s e r v e d t h a t t h e r e w a s n o l o g i c b e h i n d m a k i n g c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f f i r s t c l a s s d e g r e e of t h e s t u d e n t s b e i n g m a d e c o n d i t i o n a l o n t h e i r h a v i n g p a s s e d P r e - M e d i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n a l s o in f i r s t d i v i s i o n. T h e C o u r t i s s u e d t h e d i r e c t i o n s t h a t f i r s t c l a s s B. S c. a n d M. / S c. b e a d m i t t e d to p r e - m e d i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n w i t h o u t f u l f i l l i n g t h e f u r t h e r r e q u i r e m e n t o f 60"/. m a r k s in t h e P r e - m e d i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n. H o w e v e r in G e o r g e J o s e p h V M e d ic a l C o l l e g e, T r i v a n d r u m t h e m i n i m u m e l i g i b i l i t y f o r a d m i s s i o n t o f i r s t y e a r c o u r s e o f t h e M. B. B. S w a s a d e g r e e in P r e - U n i v e r s i t y c o u r s e w i t h l e a s t 507. m a r k s o r B. S c. d e g r e e w i t h at l e a s t 5 0 % m a r k s in p r e - d e g r e e e x a m i n a t i o n. T h e p e t i t i o n e r, e v e n t h o u g h h a v i n g s e c u r e d f i r s t c l a s s in B. S c. a n d f i r s t c l a s s in M. S c. w a s d e n i e d a d m i s s i o n a s h e s e c u r e d l e s s t h a n 5 0 % in t h e p r e d e g r e e e x a m i n a t i o n. H e c h a l l e n g e d t h e e l i g i b i l i t y c o n d i t i o n a s v i o l a t i v e o f t h e A r t i c l e 14 o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n. T h e K e r a l a H i g h C o u r t h e l d t h a t a b o v e e l i g i b i l i t y c o n d i t i o n c o u l d n o t b e s a i d to b e u n r e a s o n a b l e o r a r b i t r a r y. T h e C o u r t, h e l d t h a t t h e c o n d i t i o n w a s v a l i d a s i t w a s l a i d d o w n t o e n s u r e t h a t ' f o u n d a t i o n in b a s i c s u b j e c t s w a s w e l l l a i d ', a n d m e r e f a c t t h a t t h e c a n d i d a t e g o t f i r s t c l a s s in d e g r e e, ' d o e s n o t a f f o r d a s a f e t e s t o f t h e p r o f i - c i e n c y in a l l t h e t h r e e b a s i c o p t i o n a l s u b j e c t s. ' 00

60 154 T h u s h o w e v e r q u a l i f i e d a c a n d i d a t e m a y b e b u t if he d o e s n o t f u l f i l l t h e m i n i m u m e l i g i b i l i t y c r i t e r i a he m a y n o t g e t ~ \ 7 a d mission."" T h e C o u r t u p h e l d t h e r u l e w h i c h p r o v i d e d t h a t a c a n d i d a t e w i t h B. S c. d e g r e e m i g h t b e e l i g i b l e p r o v i d e d h e h a s c l e a r e d s a i d d e g r e e in 3 y e a r s. T h e H i m a c h a l H i g h C o u r t, a l l o w e d t h e e l i g i b i l i t y c o n d i t i o n s l a i d d o w n by t h e H i m a c h a l P r e d e s h M e d i c a l C o l l e g e w h i c h r e q u i r e d 2V. d e d u c t i o n of m a r k s f o r t h o s e w h o h a s q u a l i f i e d t h e i r q u a l i f y i n g e x a m i n a t i o n in t h e s e c o n d a t t e m p t. S i m i l a r l y in S t a t e o f U P V A n u p u n G u p t a " '^. T h e S u p r e m e C o u r t w a s c o n f r o n t e d w i t h a p r o b l e m. T h e f i r s t p r e s s - n o t e p r o v i d e d : " E l i g i b i l i t y r e q u i r e m e n t a s 50"/. m a r k s in M. B. B. S. E x a m i n a t i o n. " a n d s u b s e q u e n t r e q u i r e m e n t a d d e d a: " E l i g i b i l i t y r e q u i r e m e n t of 507. a t E n t r a n c e T e s t ". T h e r e s p o n d e n t f u l f i l l i n g t h e f i r s t r e q u i r e m e n t, c h a l l e n g e d t h e a d d i t i o n a l r e q u i r e m e n t. T h e S u p r e m e C o u r t t o o k t h e s t a n d t h i s r e q u i r e m e n t, " p r o m o t e s a n d f u r t h e r s t h e a c a d e m i c s t a n d a r d in an I n s t i t u t i o n, b y " s e l e c t i n g t h e b e s t ", a m o n g t h e t a l e n t e d c a n d i d a t e s ". w h i c h w i l l a c h i e v e e x c e l l e n c e in p o s t - g r a d u a t e s p e c i a l i t y a s s u c h i t w a s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a n d v a l i d. H o w e v e r, in s o m e c a s e a d m i s s i o n r u l e s f o r c e a m o r e q u a l i f i e d c a n d i d a t e t o g o d o w n in t h e m e r i t l i s t. In T e j i n d e r S i n g h V S t a t e 4 0 t h e p e t i t i o n e r a f t e r p a s s i n g M B B S c o m p l e t e d o n e y e a r D i p l o m a c o u r s e in C l i n i c a l P a t h o l o g y a n d M i c r o b i o l o g y a n d f o r t h i s r e a s o n h e w a s n o t g i v e n a d m i s s i o n in t h e f o l l o w i n g c h o i c e s i. e. M. S. S u r g e r y, M. D. T u b e r c u l o s i s

61 a l l y i n c o m e c a m e d o w n a f t e r h e r f a t h e r s d e a t h, w h i c h o c c u r r e d a f t e r t h e e x p i r e o f l a s t d a t e o f a d m i s s i o n. S h e c l a i m e d s e a t in v i e w of t h e c h a n g e d p o s i t i o n. C o u r t d e c l a r e d h e r i n e l i g i b l e a s it. is l i k e l y to u p s e t a l l a d m i s s i o n p r o c e s s r e s u l t i n g in n o t h i n g ^ b u t c h a o s. In A s h i s h R a i V B a n a r a s H in d u U n i v e r s i t y t h e q u e s t i o n w a s a s to. " w h o w a s c o m p e t e n t t o p r e s c r i b e t h e e l i g i b i l i t y r e q u i r e m e n t s. 11. T h e S e c t i o n 11 o f t h e B a n a r a s H i n d u U n i v e r s i t y A c t, (1915) r e a d w i t h S t a t u t e 26, 11 it w a s A c a d e m i c C o u n c i l " w h i c h w a s c o m p e t e n t t o p r e s c r i b e t h e m i n i m u m e l i g i b i l i t y c o n d i t i o n s f o r a d m i s s i o n s. H o w e v e r t h e D i v i s i o n B e n c h o f t h e A l l a h a b a d H i g h C o u r t h e l d t h a t i t w a s E x e c u t i v e C o u n c i l w h i c h w a s c o m p e t e n t t o p r e s c r i b e t h e e l i g i b i l i t y r e q u i r e m e n t s P r o v i s i o n a l A d m i s s i o n s! T h e p r o v i s i o n a l a d m i s s i o n t o a c o u r s e i s a l s o g r a n t e d by t h e c o u r t s. T h e S u p r e m e C o u r t ^ h a s h e l d a t w h e n e v e r a w r i t p e t i t i o n c h a l l e n g i n g t h e a d m i s s i o n t o a p r o f e s s i o n a l C o u r s e i s f i l e d. P r o v i s i o n a l a d m i s s i o n s h o u l d n o t b e g i v e n a s a m a t t e r o f c o u r s e, o n t h e p e t i t i o n b e i n g a d m i t t e d u n l e s s, t h e C o u r t is f u l l y s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e p e t i t i o n e r h a s a c a s t - i r o n c a s e, w h i c h i s b o u n d t o s u c c e e d o r t h e e r r o r is s o g r o s s o r a p p a r e n t t h a t n o o t h e r c o n c l u s i o n i s p o s s i b l e. In o r d e r t o t e s t t h e f a c t t h e s h o r t n o t i c e m a y b e g i v e n t o t h e o t h e r p a r t y, a n d, if t h e C o u r t i s s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e r e i s a p r i m a - f a c i e c a s e a n d m a t t e r n e e d s t h o r o u g h e x a m i n a t i o n, p r o v i s i o n a l a d m i s s i o n s m a y b e g i v e n. E x p e r i e n c e h a s s h o w n t h a t in v i e w o f t h e h u g e a c c u m u l a t i o n o f a r r e a r s in t h e C o u r t, l o n g t i m e i s c o n s u m e d f o r t h e p e t i t i o n s t o b e d i s p o s e d o f f. T h i s h a s r e s u l t e d i n t o p i q u a n t a n d p u n g e n t s i t u a t i o n b e c a u s e b y t h e t i m e, t h e c a s e s c o m e u p f o r h e a r i n g, t h e r e j e c t e d c a n d i d a t e s h a v i n g c o m p l e t e d t h e i r c o u r s e, h a v i n g a p p e a r e d in t h e e x a m i n a t i o n w i t h e v e r y h o p e

62 156 a n d C h e s t a n d M. D. P s y c h i a t r y. T h e r e a s o n w a s t h a t t h e r u l e p r o v i d e d : t h a t t h e c a n d i d a t e w h o h a s p a s s e d p o s t g r a d u a t e c o u r s e in t h e s a m e s p e c i a l i t y. " T h i s m e a n t t h a t e v e n t h o u g h t h e c a n d i d a t e s m e r i t w a s h i g h e r, s t i l l h e c o u l d n o t b e a d m i t t e d to a c o u r s e o f h i s c h o i c e. T h e P u n j a b a n d H a r y a n a H i g h C o u r t s t r u c k d o w n t h e c o n d i t i o n a s a g a i n s t A r t. 1 4 o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n. In J a y a t s h r e e D e v i V U n i v e r s i t y o f DeJ/ii4 1. T h e U n i v e r s i t y of D e l h i p r o v i d e d an e l i g i b i l i t y r e q u i r e m e n t o f 5 0 V. in a g g r e g a t e in g r a d u a t e a n d p o s t - g r a d u a t e e x a m i n a t i o n f o r a d m i s s i o n t o L L. M. c o u r s e. T h i s w a s c h a l l e n g e d b y t h e p e t i t i o n e r t o b e i l l e g a l, a r b i t r a r y, a n d i r r a t i o n a l. T h e U n i v e r s i ty t o o k t h e p l e a of " a d m i n i s t r a t i v e i n c o n v e n i e n c e " a n d " s e l e c t i n g b e s t o f t h e b e t t e r o n e s ". S i n g h J s e t a s i d e t h e c h a l l e n g e o n t h e g r o u n d t h a t i t w a s t h e m e c h a n i s m t o ' w e e d o u t a t a v e r y i n i t i a l s t a g e t h e s u b - s t a n d a r d s a n d r e c e i v e ' c r e a m of t h e c r e a m s '. M. N a r i a n, J h e l d t h a t d i s c r i m i n a t i o n i s d i s c r i m i n a t o r y. T h u s t h e j u d g m e n t i s n o t c l e a r o n t h i s p o i n t. It i s h u m b l y s u b m i t t e d t h a t e x i s t i n g s c e n a r i o o f t h e l a w F a c u l t i e s a l l o v e r I n d i a i s d i s m a l ' o n l y t h e l e f t o u t s a r e t h e m a i n c o n s u m e r s o f t h e l a w a d m i s s i o n s ' t h e r e f o r e s o m e e l i g i b i l i t y c r i t e r i o n i s n e c e s s a r y if s o m e c r e d i b i l i t y i s t o b e g i v e n t o l a w 4 2 c o u r s e. W h e n d o e s o n e v a l i d l y a c q u i r e t h e e l i g i b i l i t y r e q u i r e m e n t w a s a q u e s t i o n w h i c h t h e K e r a l a H i g h C o u r t 43 h a d t o d e c i d e. T h e p e t i t i o n e r w a s a n a p p l i c a n t t o f i r s t y e a r M B B S c o u r s e t o t h e M u s l i m C o m m u n i t y S e a t a n d h a v i n g i n c o m e b e l o w R s. 2 0, / -. A c t u -

63 15? of s u c c e s s, b e c o m e e l i g i b l e f o r a d m i s s i o n t o t h e h i g h e r c o u r s e in c a s e of s u c c e s s, e v e n t h o u g h, t h e C o u r t m a y u l t i m a t e l y f i n d t h a t t h e i r o r i g i n a l a d m i s s i o n w a s n o t j u s t i f i a b l e. T h i s r e s u l t s in a d i l e m m a f o r w h i c h t h e r e is h a r d l y a n y r e m e d y. T h i s is t h e b i g g e s t p r o b l e m w h i c h i s b e i n g f a c e d by t h e U n i v e r s i t y of K a s h m i r. T h e H i g h C o u r t o f J a m m u a n d K a s h m i r h a s b e e n g r a n t i n g p r o v i s i o n a l a d m i s s i o n t o a l l c o u r s e s, in S c i e n c e s a n d B u s i n e s s M a n a g e m e n t, c a u s i n g l o t o f i n c o n v e n i e n c e to t h e U n i v e r s i t y A u t h o r i t i e s. It i s s u b m i t t e d t h a t H i g h C o u r t, s h o u l d in f u t u r e d i s c o n t i n u e t h e p r a c t i c e o f l i g h t l y g r a n t i n g p r o v i s i o n a l a d m i s s i o n t o t h e c a n d i d a t e s a t t h e t i m e of r e g u l a r a d m i s s i o n s. I n f a c t t h e P r o v i s i o n a l A d m i s s i o n a s p r o v i d e d u n d e r t h e S t a t u t e s g o v e r n i n g a d m i s s i o n u n d e r t h e K a s h m i r a n d J a m m u U n i v e r s i t i e s A c t, i s a c o n c e s s i o n t o b e a l l o w e d o n l y in a v e r y s p e c i a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s i.e. in c a s e t h e r e s u l t o f t h e c a n d i d a t e is n o t d e c l a r e d o r w i t h h e l d f o r a n y r e a s o n. T h i s p r o v i s i o n is a e x c e p t i o n t o t h e g e n e r a l r u l e a n d is i n t e n d e d to h e l p t h e m e r i t o r i o u s b o r iafide c a n d i d a t e s. In S t a t e o f J & K V R a d h ik a N a g r o t r a t h e r e s p o n d e n t a n a p p l i c a n t f o r M B B S c o u r s e w a s a l l o w e d p r o v i s i o n al a d m i s s i o n a n d l a t t e r it w a s r e j e c t e d. A g a i n s t t h i s a c t i o n, s h e m o v e d t h e C o u r t a n d C o u r t p r o v i s i o n a l l y a l l o w e d h e r to a p p e a r in t h e e n t r a n c e e x a m i n a t i o n. S h e c o m p l e t e d t h e c o u r s e a n d m e a n w h i l e t h e C o u r t r e g u l a r i s e d h e r a d m i s s i o n. T h e E d u c a t i o n A u t h o r i t i e s s l e p t o v e r t h e m a t e r f o r 5 y e a r s a n d c a m e t o C o u r t t o d i s l o d g e her. T h e H i g h C o u r t r e j e c t e d t h e a p p e a l, a n d h e l d t h a t b r i g h t c a r e e r o f t h e r e s p o n d e n t c a n n o t b e c l o c k e d b a c k by m o r e t h a n f i v e y e a r s, a n d t h a t t o o w o u l d n o t b e b e n e f i c i a l t o a n y b o d y.

64 158 1:3 A d m i s s i o n in r e l a x a t i o n of the Rules: O n c e a p p l i c a t i o n s f o r a d m i s s i o n a r e c a l l e d - i n, t h e a d m i s s i o n r u l e s c a n n o t b e s u b s e q u e n t l y c h a n g e d. W h e t h e r t h e r u l e s c o n t a i n e d in t h e O r d i n a n c e o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y g o v e r n i n g a d m i s s i o n to t h e p o s t - g r a d u a t e c o u r s e s of s t u d i e s a r e m a n d a t o r y o r d i r e c t o r y is a m a t t e r w h i c h t h e U n i v e r s i t y s h a l l h a v e to c o n s i d e r a f t e r t a k i n g all r e l e v a n t f a c t o r s, s u c h as, n a t u r e o f r e q u i r e m e n t s, i t s p u r p o s e a n d c o n s e q u e n c e s o f r e l a x a t i o n a n d a c a d e m i c e x c e l l e n c e ^. If t h e U n i v e r s i t y c o n s i d e r s t h a t a n y p r o v i s i o n is n o t m a n d a t o r y it c a n r e l a x t h e s e r u l e s o n o b j e c t i v e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s. N o p u b l i c a u t h o r i ty, l e a s t o f a l l, U n i v e r s i t y w h i c h i s e n t r u s t e d w i t h t h e f u t u r e of t h e U n i v e r s i t y s t u d e n t s c a n p i c k a n d c h o o s e p e r s o n s f o r r e c e i v i n g t h e b e n e f i t s o f r e l a x a t i o n o f r u l e s. T h e U n i v e r s i t y a n d C o l l e g e a u t h o r i t i e s m u s t a p p l y s a m e y a r d s t i c k t o a l l t h e s t u d e n t s w h o a p p l y f o r a d m i s s i o n t o p o s t - g r a d u a t e c o u r s e s o f s t u d y. 1:4 T h e E n t r a n c e T e s t : It i s n e c e s s a r y a n d in s o m e c a s e s n o t f e a s i b l e t o a d m i t t h o s e w h o h a v e a p p l i e d f o r a d m i s s i o n. In t h e l i g h t o f l i m i t e d n u m b e r o f s e a t s a n d e n o r m o u s r u s h f o r a d m i s s i o n s, i t b e c o m e s e s s e n t i a l t o a d o p t s o m e m e a n s t o s e l e c t b e s t o u t o f t h e a p p l i c a n t s. T h e E d u c a t i o n a l A u t h o r i t i e s m a y p r e s c r i b e w r i t t e n t e s t o r an 49 i n t e r v i e w f o r s e e k i n g a d m i s s i o n all In S t a t e o f A. P. V N a r e n d e r s N a t h >5Cl, t h e B o v e r n m e n t of A. P. b y a n o t i f i c a t i o n p r e s c r i b e d E n t r a n c e T e s t f o r t h o s e w h o w e r e d e s i r o u s o f g e t t i n g in t h e S t a t e M e d i c a l C o l l e g e s. T h e E n t r a n c e T e s t w a s t o c o n s i s t o f 4 p a p e r s o f 5 0 m a r k s e a c h o f t h e f o l l o w i n g s u b j e c t s 5 P h y s i c a l S c i e n c e s, a n d B i o l o g i c a l S c i e n c e s. T h e t e s t w a s

65 to be c o n d u c t e d in o n e d a y in t w o s e s s i o n s, e a c h of t w o h o u r s d u r a t i o n. T h e t e s t w a s to b e p a r t l y o b j e c t i v e a n d p a r t l y n a r r a tive. T h e r e w e r e s e a t s in all t h e f o u r M e d i c a l C o l l e g e s in t h e f i r s t Y e a r M B B S c o u r s e w h e r e a s c a n d i d a t e s a p p l i e d f o r a d m i s s i o n. T h o s e w h o a p p e a r e d in t h e E n t r a n c e T e s t b u t f a i l e d to s e c u r e a d m i s s i o n a p p r o a c h e d t h e C o u r t, c h a l l e n g i n g t h e v a l i d i t y of t h e T e s t. T h e S u p r e m e C o u r t h e l d t h a t n u m b e r of t h e c a n d i d a t e s a p p l y i n g f o r a d m i s s i o n i s f a r e x c e e d i n g t h e n u m b e r o f s e a t s a v a i l a b l e a n d T e s t s o p r e s c r i b e d w a s in t h e s u b j e c t s w h i c h t h e c a n d i d a t e s w e r e a l r e a d y f a m i l i a r. T h e r e f o r e, t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g u n f a i r in p r e s c r i b i n g t h e E n t r a n c e T e s t. S i m i l a r l y in J a y a n t S a d V D e a n, D e l h i U n i v e r s i t y, F a c u l t y o f L a w 51 t h e D r a f t a d m i s s i o n, h a v i n g b e e n f r a m e d o n t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o f h i g h p o w e r e d c o m m i t t e e u n d e r t h e C h a i r m a n s h i p of V. S. D e s h p a n d e, t h e F o r m e r C h i e f J u s t i c e of t h e D e l h i H i g h C o u r t a n d a p p r o v e d by t h e A c a d e m i c C o u n c i l of t h e D e l h i U n i v e r s i t y w e r e c h a l l e n g e d a s a r b i t r a r y a n d u n f a i r. T h e D e l h i H i g h C o u r t n o t o n l y s e t a s i d e t h e a b o v e c o n t e n t i o n b u t a d d e d : " w e d o n o t t h i n k i t n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e L a w C o u r s e s A d m i s s i o n C o m m i t t e e o r f o r a n y o t h e r a u t h o r i t y to g i v e r e a s o n o r to r e c o r d a n y m i n u t e s a s t o w h y it d e c i d e d t o h o l d a d m i s s i o n t e s t. " H o w e v e r, i n t h e E n t r a n c e T e s t f o r a s u p e r s p e c i a l i t y t h e e d u c a t i o n a l a u t h o r i t i e s a d o p t e d a c a s u a l a p p r o a c h w h i c h i s r e f l e c t e d in t h e A l l a h a b a d H i g h C o u r t d e c i s i o n. T h e r e f l e c t i o n w e r e c a s t o n t h e 1 5 q u e s t i o n s w h i c h h a d d u a l a n s w e r s, r e s u l t i n g in u n f a i r m a r k i n g. T h e H i g h C o u r t wab g r e a t l y i n f l u e n c e d b y t h e f a c t t h a t U n i v e r s i t y h a d d e c i d e d n o t o n l y t o d i s a l l o w n e g a t i v e m a r k i n g

66 160 b ut a l s o a d d 10 m a r k s f o r o n l y 6 q u e s t i o n h a v i n g d u a l a n s w e r s. C o u r t d i d n o t t h i n k n e c e s s a r y to f u r t h e r p r o b e i n t o t h e m a t t e r 5 *". It i s h u m b l y s u b m i t t e d t h a t it is n o t j u s t i f i e d f o r t h e C o u r t s t o a l l o w t h e U n i v e r s i t i e s t o g o s o c o m f o r t a b l y b e c a u s e a s i n g l e v a g u e o r i n c o r r e c t q u e s t i o n w i l l o p e n t h e d o o r s f o r a s u p e r s p e c i a l i t y f o r o n l y f e w a n d m a y in t h e p r o c e s s u p s e t t h e c l a i m of c. -7 t a l e n t e d c a n d i d a t e s 1'". T h e 'key' a n s w e r s p r e p a r e d by t h e E x a m i n i n g B o d y f o r T e s t e v a l u a t i o n s h o u l d be a c c u r a t e. In c a s e t h e c a n d i d a t e in a t e s t h a s a n s w e r e d a l l t h e q u e s t i o n s c o r r e c t l y b u t t h e a n s w e r d i d n o t t a l l y w i t h t h e 'key' a n s w e r s. T h e m i s t a k e w a s in t h e k e y a n s w e r s. T h e S u p r e m e C o u r t v e r i f i e d t h i s f r o m t h e a v a i l a b l e l i t e r a t u r e a n d e x p e r t o p i n i o n on t h e s u b j e c t a n d w a s c o n s t r a i n e d t o m a k e f o l l o w i n g o b s e r v a t i o n s. " T h e s t a t e g o v e r n m e n t s h o u l d c o m p i l e, u n d e r i t s o w n a u s p i c e s a t e x t b o o k w h i c h s h o u l d be p r e s c r i b e d f o r t h e s t u d e n t s d e s i r o u s o f a p p e a r i n g f o r t h e c o m b i n e d m e d i c a l t e s t...s e c o n d l y, a s y s t e m s h o u l d b e d e v i s e d b y t h e S t a t e G o v e r n m e n t f o r m o d e r a t i n g t h e ' k e y ' a n s w e r s f u r n i s h e d b y t h e P a p e r s e t t e r s. T h i r d l y, if t h e q u e s t i o n s a r e t o b e t r a n s l a t e d f r o m E n g l i s h t o H i n d i, t h e t r a n s l a t o r m u s t k n o w t h e m e a n i n g o f s c i e n t i f i c t e r m i n o l o g y ' 5 F o u r t h l y, in t h e s y s t e m o f M u l t i p l e C h o i c e O b j e c t i v e T y p e T e s t c a r e m u s t b e t a k e n t o s e e t h a t q u e s t i o n s h a v i n g a m b i g i o u s i m p o r t s s h o u l d n o t b e s e t in a p a p e r.... a n d l a s t l y, if t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y is d r a w n t o w a r d s a n y d e f e c t in t h e key' a n s w e r s,

67 161 p r o m p t a n d t i m e l y d e c i s i o n s h o u l d be t a k e n by t h e U n i v e r s i t y 5 ^. 1:5 A d m i s s i o n & I n t e r v i e w s ; T h e o t h e r m o d e of s e l e c t i n g t h e c a n d i d a t e s f o r a n y c o u r s e i s b y " I n t e r v i e w i n g " t h e a p p l i c a n t s. T h e a p p l i c a t i o n s a r e f i r s t s c r e e n e d a n d t h e n c a l l s s e l e c t e d c a n d i d a t e s f o r " I n t e r v i e w ", ant, t h o s e w h o f a r e w e l l in t h e i n t e r v i e w a r e s e l e c t e d. In C h i t r a L e k h V S t a t e o f M y s o r e 5 5, t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t u p h e l d t h e v a l i d i t y of an o r d e r o f ' M y s o r e G o v e r n m e n t in p r e s c r i b i n g i n t e r v i e w f o r r e g u l a t i n g a d m i s s i o n t o M e d i c a l a n d E n g i n e e r i n g C o l l e g e s of t h e S t a t e. T h e C o u r t s h a v e h o w e v e r, a t t i m e s d e c l a r e d t h e i n t e r v i e w s y s t e m f o r a d m i s s i o n t o E d u c a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t i o n s a s bad. T h e F u l l B e n c h of t h e J a n d K H i g h C o u r t in S u b a s h V P r i n c i p a l, M e d ic a l C o l l e g e 5 ^ h e l d t h a t a b a r e s e l e c t i o n o n t h e b a s i s o f ' M a r k s ' a t t h e inter v i e w i g n o r i n g c o m p l e t e l y a c a d e m i c m e r i t o f t h e c a n d i d a t e w a s p a t e n t l y u n r e a s o n a b l e, a r b i t r a r y a n d v i o l a t i v e o f A r t. 14 o f t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n. F a z l A l i, J d e c r y i n g t h e s a i d s y s t e m o f s e l e c t i o n s t a t e d t h a t,: S u c h a m o d e o f s e l e c t i o n i s i n h e r e n t l y b a d t o t h e n o t i o n s o f c i v i l i z e d s o c i e t i e s w h i c h a i m s a t a c h i e v i n g h i g h l y p e r f e c t a n d s c i e n t i f i c s t a n d a r d s o f e d u c a t i o n ". T h e L e a r n e d J u d g e g a v e d i r e c t i o n t o t h e S e l e c t i o n C o m m i t t e e a s t o t h e m o d e w h i c h s h o u l d b e f o l l o w e d! i. T h e c a n d i d a t e s b e s e l e c t e d p u r e l y o n t h e b a s i s o f a g g r e g a t e m a r k s s e c u r e d b y t h e m a t t h e l a s t

68 162 q u a l i f y i n g e x a m i n a t i o n w i t h o r w i t h o u t an i n t e r - v i e w ; ii. by h o l d i n g an ' I n t e r v i e w ' by a C o m m i t t e e c o n s i s t i n g o f h i g h l y q u a l i f i e d p e r s o n s a n d a d d i n g t h e m a r k s a l l o t t e d a t t h e ' i n t e r v i e w ' t o t h e a g g r e g a t e s e c u r e d by t h e c a n d i d a t e s in t h e l a s t q u a l i f y i n g e x a m i n a t i o n a n d s e l e c t i n g t h e m in o r d e r of m e r i t, o r i i i. b y h o l d i n g a n i n t e r v i e w of t h o s e c a n d i d a t e s w h o h a v e s e c u r e d a p a r t i c u l a r p e r c e n t a g e o f m a r k s in l a s t q u a l i f y i n g e x a m i n a t i o n a n d a l l o t t i n g in i n t e r v i e w f o r v a r i o u s c o u n t s. m a r k s If a n y of t h e s e m o d e s i s r e s o r t e d to t h e C o u r t s h a l l n o t f i n d f a u l t w i t h t h e i n t e r v i e w s y s t e m. T h e S u p r e m e Court, t u r n e d d o w n t h e m o d e o f i n t e r v i e w w h e r e t h e S e l e c t i o n C o m m i t t e e d i d n o t a l l o t s e p a r a t e m a r k s t o e a c h i t e m 5 7. T h e S u p r e m e C o u r t a l s o i n v a l i d a t e d i n t e r v i e w s y s t e m w h i c h p r o v i d e d e x c e s s i v e m a r k s f o r i n t e r v i e w 5 8. B h a g w a t i, J s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e a l l o c a t i o n o f m o r e t h a t 1 5 /. m a r k s f o r o r a l i n t e r v i e w w i l l b e a r b i t r a r y a n d u n r e a s o n a b l e, b e c a u s e o f d e t e r i o r a t i o n o f m o r a l v a l u e s c o r r u p t i o n a n d N e p o t i s m s6s E l l i o i b i l i t v L i n k e d w i t h p a t t e r n T h e S t a t u t e s g o v e r n i n g a d m i s s i o n t o t h e p o s t / g r a d u a t e c o u r s e s in t h e U n i v e r s i t y of K a s h m i r s t a t e t h a t o n l y t h o s e c a n d i d a t e s a r e e l i g i b l e t o a d m i s s i o n w h o h a v e u n d e r g o n e s t u d y u p t o g r a d u a t i o n

69 163 l evel o n t h e p a t t e r n, to u n d e r g o, e x t r a o n e y e a r s t u d y in t h e c o l l e g e. T h i s r u l e is n o t to be t r e a t e d a s a r b i t r a r y a n d u n r e a s o n a b l e t h e a d m i s s i o n p o l i c y b e i n g in l i n e w i t h t h e N a t i o n a l P o l i c y o f E d u c a t i o n,.1985 a n d t h e U n i v e r s i t y G r a n t s C o m m i s s i o n g u i d e l i n e s ^ * ". In a d m i s s i o n s f o r t h e c o u r s e s o f f e r e d by t h e D e p a r t m e n t of D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n, U n i v e r s i t y of K a s h m i r s a m e r u l e a p p l y. 1:2:1 C a n c e l l a t i o n of A d m i s s i o n s : A f t e r t h e a d m i s s i o n of a s t u d e n t t o a E d u c a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t i o n s, t h e a u t h o r i t i e s m a y d i s c o v e r n e w f a c t s w a r r a n t i n g c a n c e l l a t i o n of a d m i s s i o n. T h u s s o m e o f t h e s i t u a t i o n s w h e r e C o u r t s : u p h e l d t h e c a n c e l l a t i o n o f a d m i s s i o n a r e : d i s c o v e r y o f t h e f a c t t h a t t h e s t u d e n t d i d n o t b e l o n g to t h e S c h e d u l e d C a s t e ^1 t h a t s t u d e n t c o n v e r t e d h i m s e l f f r o m C h r i s t i a n i t y to H i n d u i s m s o a s to g e t b e n e f i t o f S c h e d u l e C a s t e r e s e r v a t i o n, e v e n t h o u g h t h e r e w a s n o e v i d e n c e t h a t c o m m u n i t y t o w h i c h h e g o t c o n v e r t e d h a d a c c e p t e d h i m in i t s f o l d o r d i s c o v e r y t h a t s t u d e n t h a s b e e n c o n v i c t e d of an s e r i o u s o f f e n c e a n d t h e c r i m i n a l p r o c e e d i n g s w e r e s t i l l p e n d i n g a g a i n s t h i m ^ J a n d d i s c o v e r y o f w r o n g s u b m i s s i o n o f m a r k s by a student^* 4. In c a n c e l l a t i o n o f a d m i s s i o n t h e E d u c a t i o n a l a u t h o r i t y h a s to o b s e r v e r u l e s o f n a t u r a l j u s t i c e. W h e r e t h e f a c t s o n w h i c h c a n c e l l a t i o n i s b a s e d i s c l e a r a n d i n d i s p u t a b l e, l i k e c o n v i c t i o n f o r a c r i m i n a l o f f e n c e, it i s n o t n e c e s s a r y t o o b s e r v e r u l e s of n a t u r a l j u s t i c e. B u t w h e n f a c t s a r e d i s p u t a b l e t h e a u t h o r i t y h a s to p r o v i d e r e a s o n a b l e o p p o r t u n i t y o f b e i n g h e a r d t o t h e s t u d e n t c o n c e r n e d b e f o r e c a n c e l l i n g h i s a d m i s s i o n. It w i l l d e p e n d o n t h e f a c t s o f e a c h c a s e w h e t h e r t h e a u t h o r i t y h a s o b s e r v e d r u l e s of n a t u r a l j u s t i c e.

70 H o w e v e r o n c e a s t u d e n t i s g i v e n a d m i s s i o n t h e r e is a t e n d e n - c y on t h e p a r t o f C o u r t, n o t t o g i v e a n y c r e d e n c e to t h e a c t i o n of c a n c e l l a t i o n o f a d m i s s i o n, u n l e s s t h e a d m i s s i o n is v i o l a t i v e of b a s i c e l i g i b i l i t y c r i t e r i a. In K. R. S h i v a d a t t a G o v t. M e d ic a l C o lle g e * * '- r u l e s p r o v i d e f o r c a n c e l l a t i o n of a d m i s s i o n if a s t u d e n t w h o w a s ' i n e l i g i b l e ' w a s i n a d v e r t e n t l y a d m i t t e d. H e r e t h e p e t i t i o n e r w h o w a s l e s s m e r i t o r i o u s t h a n o t h e r s in t e r m s o f m a r k s o b t a i n e d a t t h e e x a m i n a t i o n p r e s c r i b e d f o r a d m i s s i o n w a s c o u n t e d by a m i s t a k e. O n t h e d i s c o v e r y of t h i s a u t h o r i t i e s c a n c e l l e d t h e a d m i s s i o n. C o u r t h e l d t h a t p e t i t i o n e r f u l f i l l e d t h e e l i g i b i l i t y r e q u i r e m e n t s h i s a d m i s s i o n c a n n o t b e c a n c e l l e d. C o u r t f u r t h e r o b s e r v e d t h a t ' u n d e r r u l e s t h e p o w e r s o f s e l e c t i o n c o m m i t t e e c e a s e o n p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e l i s t of s e l e c t e d c a n d i d a t e s t h e r e a f t e r it h a d n o p o w e r t o c a n c e l t h e a d m i s s i o n. It i s h u m b l y s u b m i t t e d t h a t C o u r t h a s t a k e n n a r r o w v i e w of t h e c a s e. E d u c a t i o n a u t h o r i t i e s s h o u l d in n o c a s e b e p r e v e n t e d f r o m c a n c e l l a t i o n o f a d m i s s i o n w h e n s o o n a f t e r t h e a d m i s s i o n it is d i s c o v e r e d t h a t c a n d i d a t e s a r e n o t l e g a l l y q u a l i f i e d. A t t i m e s a d m i s s i o n s a r e g r a n t e d p r o v i s i o n a l l y. B u t c o n t e n t i o n o f t h e a u t h o r i t i e s t h a t t h e a d m i s s i o n w a s p r o v i s i o n a l w o u l d n o t m a k e i t s o, if f a c t s d o n o t w a r r a n t. In a b s e n c e of a n y v a l i d r e a s o n, a d m i s s i o n w i l l n o t b e t r e a t e d a s p r o v i s i o n a l e v e n t h o u g h t h e a d m i s s i o n a u t h o r i t y h a s s a i d so. W h e r e t h e a p p l i c a t i o n is c o m p l e t e, s a t i s f i e s t h e p r e s c r i b e d r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r a d m i s s i o n, d o c u m e n t s a c c o m p a n y i n g t h e a p p l i c a t i o n a r e in o r d e r a n d t h e r e a r e v a c a n c i e s.in t h e c o u r s e, t h e r e i s n o q u e s t i o n o f g i v i n g a p r o v i s i o n a l a d m i s s i o n ^. E v e n if t h e a d m i s s i o n i s p r o v i s i o n a l, t h e a u t h o r i t i e s o f e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s h o u l d n o t a c t a r b i t r a r i l y a n d t h e i r d e c i s i o n s h o u l d b e b a s e d o n r u l e s o f n a t u r a l j u s t i c e.

71 165 W h e t h e r the a d m i s s i o n is p r o v i s i o n a l or r e g u l a r when the a u t h o r i t i e s s u b s e q u e n t l y find s o m e i r r e g u l a r i t y a d e f e c t in a d m i s sion r e q u i r i n g c a n c e l l a t i o n, it is e x p e c t e d of t h e m to a c t w i t h d i l i g e n c e a s the s t u d e n t m a y h a v e p u r s u e d the c o u r s e for s o m e p eriod of t i m e a n d c a n c e l l a t i o n m a y c a u s e s u b s t a n t i a l loss to his a c a d e m i c c a r e e r. T h u s in D e l h i Univmrmity V Aahak Kumar^ 7, the p e t i t i o n e r had p a s s e d s e c o n d a r y c e r t i f i c a t e e x a m i n a t i o n from G u j a r a t U n i v e r s i t y and w a s p r o v i s i o n a l l y a d m i t t e d to B.A. part 1st Y e a r C o u r s e of D e l h i U n i v e r s i t y. A f t e r o v e r a y e a r U n i v e r s i - t y i n f o r m e d him t h a t h e w a s i n e l i g i b l e to join the c o u r s e as Oujar at E x a m i n a t i o n w a s n o t r e c o g n i s e d by D e l h i U n i v e r s i t y. M e a n w h i l e, the s t u d e n t has p a s s e d t h e e x a m i n a t i o n. T h e C o u r t h e l d that a d m i s s i o n w a s s i m p l y 'irregular' a n d n o t u l t r a - v i r e s the s t a t u t e s of the U n i v e r s i t y and C o u r t q u a s h e d t h e o r d e r of the U n i v e r s i t y. C o u r t r e f u s e d to a c c e p t t h e p l e a of the U n i v e r s i t y t h a t d e l a y s w e r e i n e v i t a b l e a s t h e U n i v e r s i t y h a s to deal w i t h large n u m b e r of cases. In c e r t a i n c a s e s, a f t e r lapse of f e w y e a r s a u t h o r i t i e s m a y d i s c o v e r the s t u d e n t w a s i n e l i g i b l e to be a d m i t t e d to a c o u r s e e i t h e r b e c a u s e of h i s own f r a u d o r o t h e r w i s e. In Rmnbir Singh V Stmtm of Punjab**3 a s t u d e n t w a s a d m i t t e d t o a M B B B c o u r s e in a s a S c h e d u l e C a s t e c a n d i d a t e. A f t e r he had p a s s e d the e x a m i n a t i o n in and c o m p l e t e d t h e p e r i o d of i n t e r ship, C o l l e g e issued h i m a n o t i c e p r o p o s i n g to c a n c e l h i s a d m i s s i o n and the d e g r e e on t h e g r o u n d t h a t h e d i d n o t b e l o n g to S c h e d u l e Caste. it w a s held t h a t C o l l e g e c o u l d n o t d o s o at s u c h a late stage. A f t e r c o m p l e t i o n of t h e c o u r s e, the P r i n c i p a l of M e d i c a l C o l l e g e h a s n o j u r i s d i c t i o n t o s a y t h a t as t h e p e t i t i o n e r h a s o b t a i n e d a d m i s s i o n by fraud on t h e b a s i s of f a l s e c e r t i f i c a t e h i s n a m e s h o u l d be re m o v e d f r o m t h e rolls.

72 166 In c e r t a i n, s i t u a t i o n s, e l i g i b l e c a n d i d a t e s are left out b e c a u s e of s o m e r e s e r v a t i o n policy. T h e s e s t u d e n t s w h o fail to s e c u r e a d m i s s i o n c h a l l e n g e t h e p o l i c y of r e s e r v a t i o n and u s u a l l y C o u r t u p h o l d s the c o n t e n t i o n and d e c l a r e s the r e s e r v a t i o n p o l i c y as u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l. T h e c o n s e q u e n c e of s u c h a C o u r t o r d e r would be to c a n c e l t h e a d m i s s i o n s of w r o n g l y a d m i t t e d s t u d e n t s and if those w r o n g l y a d m i t t e d s t u d e n t s m a y h a v e p u r s u e d their s t u d i e s for c o n s i d e r a b l e t i m e or e v e n p a s s e d thb e x a m i n a t i o n, w h a t will h a p pen. A s i m i l a r s i t u a t i o n a r o s e in 9tat* of Kmrmla V T.P.Hoshmna69 the C o u r t found that 3 0 s t u d e n t s w e r e w r o n g l y a d m i t t e d to a m e d i cal c o u r s e on a c c o u n t of r e s e r v a t i o n p o l i c y w h i c h the C o u r t found to be u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l. C o u r t a f t e r c o n s u l t i n g the U n i v e r s i t y a u t h o r i t i e s p a s s e d the o r d e r a s k i n g c o l l e g e to i n c r e a s e 3 0 s e a t s to a c c o m m o d a t e s t u d e n t s w h o had been left out, i n s t e a d of p a s s i n g an o r d e r c a n c e l l i n g the a d m i s s i o n of 30 students. 1 i3 i 1 E x p u l s i o n * R u s t i c a t i o n! T h e s t a t u t e 6 s u b - c l a u s e 2 5 of t h e K a s h m i r a n d J a m m u U n i v e r s i t y A c t, r e a d s a s underi " S a v e a s o t h e r w i s e p r o v i d e d in the S t a t u t e s, when a s t u d e n t has been f o u n d g u i l t y of g r a v e m i s c o n d u c t o r p e r s i s t e n t i d l e n e s s or a b r e a c h of d i s c i p l i n e w i t h i n o r o u t s i d e the p e r m i s e s o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y, c o l l e g e or a r e c o g n i s e d i n s t i t u t i o n, t h e H e a d of th e U n i v e r s i t y D e p a r t m e n t, C o l l e g e o r I n s t i t u t i o n s at w h i c h s u c h s t u d e n t is s t u d y i n g m a y a c c o r d i n g to n a t u r e and g r a v i t y of an o f f e n c e i

73 ) expel or 2 ) r u s t i c a t e him or her for a p e r i o d n o t e x c e e d i n g o n e a c a d e m i c year; 3) d i s q u a l i f y s u c h a s t u d e n t from a p p e a r i n g at the n e x t e n s u i n g e x a m i n a t i o n. A n d s u b - c l a u s e 26 t h e S t a t u t e r e a d s a s underi N o s t u d e n t w h o has been s o e x p e l l e d, r u s t i c a t e d shall be a d m i t t e d to any o t h e r U n i v e r s i t y D e p a r t m e n t, c o l l e g e o r r e c o g n i s e d i n s t i t u t i o n s w i t h o u t p e r m i s s i o n of t h e V i c e - C h a n c e l l o r on the r e c o m m e n d a t i o n of the H e a d of the D e p a r t m e n t o r the P r i n c i p a l of the C o l l e g e or r e c o g n i s e d I n s t i t u t i o n c o n c e r n e d and n o s t u d e n t w h o h a s been r u s t i c a t e d sh a l l be a d m i t t e d i n t o a n o t h e r U n i v e r s i t y D e p a r t ment, C o l l e g e o r I n s t i t u t i o n s w i t h i n t h e period of h i s / h e r r u s t i c a t i o n. S t a t u t e s 6 s u b - c l a u s e 2 5 t o 3 2 deal w i t h e x p u l s i o n and r u s t i c a t i o n of t h e s t u d e n t s. H o w e v e r o r d e r of the r u s t i c a t i o n or e x p u l s i o n of t h e s t u d e n t s w h i c h a f f e c t s civil r i g h t s m a y be q u a s h e d by t h e c o u r t s, if t h e a c t i o n of t h e e d u c a t i o n a l a u t h o r i t y w a s t a k e n w i t h o u t b e i n g g i v e n an o p p o r t u n i t y o f b e i n g heard, by a u t h o r i t y c o m p e t e n t to a w a r d p u n i s h m e n t ^. B u t for g r o s s m i s b e h a v i o u r e.g. p a r a l y s i n g the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of a c o l l e g e, s t a g i n g v i o l e n t d e m o n s t r a t i o n s, a b u s i n g and m a n h a n d l i n g the t e a c h e r s e t c the c o u r t s m a y n o t i n s i s t o n an o p p o r t u n i t i e s o f h e a r i n g b e i n g g i v e n to t h e s t u d e n t b e f o r e i t s e x p u l s i o n

74 T h e r e f o r e a d i s t i n c t i o n h a s been m a d e b e t w e e n the o r d i n a r y breach of d i s c i p l i n e and g r a v e o r g r o s s b r e a c h of d i s c i p l i n e * In g r a v e or g r o s s b r e a c h of d i s c i p l i n e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y of being heard is not n e c e s s a r y. T h e r u s t i c a t i o n when i m p o s e d shall a l w a y s mean the loss of o n e a c a d e m i c year. And all s u c h e x p u l s i o n s and r u s t i c a t i o n s a r e to be g o t c o n f i r m e d by the U n i v e r s i t y S y n d i c a t e 7 2. A s t a t u t o r y p r o v i s i o n c o n f e r r i n g s u c h p o w e r s m a y s o m e t i m e s r a i s e p r o b l e m s. F o r e x a m p l e, d o e s a p o w e r to m a i n t a i n d i s c i p l i n e c o n f e r r e d on the V i c e - C h a n c e l l o r by the U n i v e r s i t y S t a t u t e 7 3 inc l u d e a p o w e r to s u s p e n d t h e s t u d e n t if s o d o e s the p o w e r s u s p e n d i n c l u d e (i) a p o w e r to p r o h i b i t t h e s u s p e n d e d s t u d e n t f r o m a t t e n d i n g the c l a s s e s i or (ii)a p o w e r to d i r e c t h i m to v a c a t e the H o s t e l? T h e s e q u e s t i o n s a r o s e in B.P. Muttaraja V Bang 1 ora Univmrmity74. In a l i t i g a t i o n f i l e d a g a i n s t B a n g l o r e U n i v e r s i t y, the p o w e r s c o n f e r r e d o n V i c e - C h a n c e l l o r to s u s p e n d the s t u d e n t and v a c a t e t h e H o s t e l w a s c h a l l e n g e d. It w a s i h e l d t h a t p o w e r to m a i n t a i n d i s c i p l i n e i m p l i e s p o w e r to s u s p e n d but n o t t h e p o w e r to r u s t i c a t e the student. An o r d e r of r u s t i c a t i o n p a s s e d by an a u t h o r i t y n o t c o m p e t e n t to d o so u n d e r t h e U n i v e r s i t y A c t and S t a t u t e s is l i a b l e to be set a s i d e by t h e H i g h C o u r t U n d e r Art B. It is s u b m i t t e d that U n i v e r s i t y S t a t u t e s s h o u l d a l w a y s be d r a f t e d w i t h c a r e so as to av o i d any a m b i g u i t y in f u t u r e 7 6.

75 169 Disciplinary Hatters«G e n e r a l l y the C o u r t s a r e r e l u c t a n t to i n t e r f e r e in the d i s c i p l i n a r y m a t t e r s. B u t it is n e c e s s a r y that s t u d e n t m u s t be g i v e n the o p p o r t u n i t i e s to m e e t t h e a l l e g a t i o n s m a d e a g a i n s t him and t h a t e n q u i r y m u s t be f r e e from a n y m a l a - f i d e and the a c t i o n o r d e r e d m u s t be r e a s o n a b l e 7 7. It is s u b m i t t e d that c l e a r rules should be f r a m e d f o r t h e d i s c i p l i n a r y a c t i o n 7. 1 i 3 i 2 Rules of Natural JusticeI An e x p u l s i o n o r d e r c a r r i e s a s t i g m a and h a s for r e a c h i n g c o n s e q u e n c e s o n t h e f u t u r e c a r e e r of the s t u d e n t 7 9." S c r a t c h the green r i n d of a s a p l i n g r e p e a t e d l y or w a n t o n l y, t w i s t it in the soil and t h e c r o o k e d oak will tell the a c t s f o r y e a r s to come". H e n c e t h e c o u r t s h a v e s h o w n c o n c e r n w h e r e t h e p u n i s h m e n t a w a r d e d wo u l d e n d a n g e r t h e f u t u r e of t h e p u n i s h e d s t u d e n t s. B t a t u t e S«24 of C h a p. V p r o v i d e s a p r o c e d u r e to be a d o p t e d f o r c o n d u c t of an e n q u i r y i n t o t h e a l l e g a t i o n s of m i s c o n d u c t. It e x p r e s s l y d i r e c t s that o p p o r t u n i t y to d e f e n d s h o u l d be p r o v i d e d to the student. S i m i l a r l y t h e C h i e f P r o c t o r 01 has been c o n f e r r e d w i t h p o w e r s u n d e r S t a t u t e o f t h e J a m m u and K a s h m i r U n i v e r s i t y Act, t o take d i s c i p l i n a r y a c t i o n a s p r o v i d e d in t h e s t a t u t e s in c a s e of all s t u d e n t s of P o s t - g r a d u a t e D e p a r t m e n t s of t h e U n i v e r s i t y, b o t h r e s i d e n t and n o n - r e s i d e n t w h o a r e f o u n d g u i l t y of m i s b e h a v i o u r or i m p r o p e r c o n d u c t a n d c a n e v e n r e c o m m e n d to t h e V i c e - C h a n c e l l o r r u s t i c a t i o n o r e x p u l s i o n of a s t u d e n t f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y. T h i s power of C h i e f P r o c t o r too is s u b j e c t to the r u l e s a n d n a t u r a l justice. C h i e f - P r o c t o r c a n n o t act a r b i t r a r i l y and h a s to g i v e o p p o r t u n i t y of d e f e n c e t o t h e s t u d e n t b e f o r e r e c o m m e n d i n g a n y p u n i s h m e n t to t h e s t u d e n t.

76 170 In Surmndrm Pal v Government Medical Collmgm82: a d i s c i p l i na r y a c t i o n w a s s o u g h t to be taken a g a i n s t a s t u d e n t of M edical college, S r i n a g a r for a l l e g e d m i s b e h a v i o u r i.e. b r i n i n g a girl s t u d e n t in m e n s hostel and f o r u s i n g " r a g g i n g m e a s u r e s ". But no o p p o r t u n i t y w a s g i v e n to the s t u d e n t to s h o w cause. The s t u d e n t s plea w a s that the girl s t u d e n t had been b r o u g h t into the Hostel toy way of " s h e l t e r " a g a i n s t a t r o c i t i e s c o m m i t t e d by o t h e r persons. The c o l l e g e a u t h o r i t i e s had n o t g i v e n p r o p e r s h o w c a u s e n o t i c e to the s t u d e n t and had p u n i s h e d the s t u d e n t o n l y a f t e r s e n d i n g a v a g u e n o t i c e to the f a t h e r of the student. A l l o w i n g the p e t i t i o n of the s t u d e n t the H i g h C o u r t held that P r i n c i p a l is a c t i n g in a q u a s i - j u d i c i a l c a p a c i t y. H i s d e c i s i o n w o u l d a f f e c t the future c areer, r e p u t a t i o n and p r o s p e c t s of t h e s t u d e n t. N o t i c e w a B t h e r e fore m a n d a t o r y. T h e r u s t i c a t i o n i m p o s e d on t h e s t u d e n t w a s r e v o k e d by t h e C o u r t, a s r u l e s of n a t u r a l j u s t i c e w e r e n o t f o l l o w e d in a w a r d i n g t h e p u n i s h m e n t. H o w e v e r, in e x c e p t i o n a l c a s e s or c i r c u m s t a n c e s n o t g i v i n g o p p o r t u n i t y of b e i n g h e a r d b e f o r e t a k i n g a n y d i s c i p l i n a r y m e a s u r e s r e g a r d i n g a d m i s s i o n m i g h t be t o l e r a t e d. InP.M. Unraj* V Principal, Medical Collage, TrivandimP*. T h e a d m i s s i o n of t h e p e t i t i o n e r w a s s u s p e n d e d on t h e g r o u n d t h a t p e t i t i o n e r had f o r g e d m a r k s s h e e t for a d m i s s i o n. T h e C o l l e g e a u t h o r i t i e s d i d n o t g i v e h i m h e a r i n g and c a s e w a s r e f e r r e d to p o l i c e, i.e. the p e t i t i o n e r w e r e e x p e c t e d to be d e a l t by t h e U n i v e r s i t y a u t h o r i t i e s & s e p a r a t e l y by t h e P o l i c e and t h e r e the p e t i t i o n e r h a d s u f f i c i e n t o p p o r t u n i t y for d e f e n d i n g t h e m s e l v e s. In t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h e K e r a l a H i g h C o u r t d i d n o t i n s i s t o n t h e s t r i c t c o m p l i a n c e w i t h r u l e s of n a t u r a l j u s t i c e. S i m i l a r l y t h e P r i n c i p a l of t h e I n s t i t u t i o n can s u s p e n d a s t u d e n t for r a g g i n g ^. W h e r e t h e s t a t u t e s g o v e r n i n g d i s c i p l i n e in B a n a r a s H i n d u U n i v e r s i t y Act, 1919, the s t a n d i n g C o m m i t t e e o f A c a d e m i c

77 C ouncil is e m p o w e r e d to a w a r d p u n i s h m e n t of e x p u l s i o n. T h e s t u d e n t was a w a r d e d p u n i s h m e n t by the 8 a n d i n g C o m m i t t e e of A c a d e m i c C o u n cil w i t h o u t p r o v i d i n g an o p p o r t u n i t y of being heard to the s t u d ent. T h e p u n i s h m e n t t h u s a w a r d e d is in v i o l a t i o n of rules of natural j u s t i c e. T h e S t a n d i n g C o m m i t t e e of A c a d e m i c Council s h o u l d have heard the s t u d e n t b e f o r e a w a r d i n g the p u n i s h m e n t. T h i s is n e c e s s a r y e v e n if t h e s t u d e n t has a d m i t t e d h i s g u i l t b e f o r e the W a r d e n of t h e H o s t e l o r a n y o t h e r a u t h o r i t y of the U n i v e r s i t y 8 5. In t h e c a s e of Sudhir Kumar Suri V Principal Hahmkamhml, Artm Maha Vidayalyasi>, the p e t i t i o n e r w a s a s t u d e n t in the r e s p o n d e n t M a h a v i d y a l a y a of M.A. (Final) P h i l o s o p h y. A c o m p l a i n t w a s m a d e to t h e P r i n c i p a l by L a d y L e c t u r e r in B o v e m m e n t S c i e n c e C o l l e g e that t h e p e t i t i o n e r m o l e s t e d her in the C o l l e g e Library. On t h i s c o m p l a i n t the p r i n c i p a l i s s u e d a n o t i c e to p e t i t i o n e r to a p p e a r b e f o r e h i m and to e x p l a i n w h y he s h o u l d n o t be r u s t i c a t e d from t h e c o l l e g e on the g r o u n d s of m i s c o n d u c t. A s t h e P e t i t i o n e r d e n i e d the c h a r g e. T h e P r i n c i p a l c o n s t i t u t e d the E n q u i r y C o m m i t t e e w h i c h w a s r e s p o n s i b l e and i n d e p e n d e n t body c o n s i s t i n g of 3 P r o f e s sors. T h e c o m p l a i n t of lady l e c t u r e r w a s read o u t to him w h e n he a p p e a r e d b e f o r e t h e C o m m i t t e e. H e d e n i e d the c h a r g e a n d p l e a d e d alibi. L a d y c o m p l a i n a n t w a s a l s o e x a m i n e d by the C o m m i t t e e and her s t a t e m e n t w a s taken in a b s e n c e of the p e t i t i o n e r. P e t i t i o n e r w a s n o t a l l o w e d to c r o s s e x a m i n e t h e L a d y L e c t u r e r. T h e c o m m i t t e e c a m e to t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t c o m p l a i n t m a d e by her w a s t r u e and that n e c e s s a r y a c t i o n be t a k e n a g a i n s t the p e t i t i o n e r. ; It w a s on this r e p o r t t h a t P r i n c i p a l p a s s e d o r d e r of r u s t i c a t i o n a g a i n s t the p e t i t i o n e r. T h e p e t i t i o n e r c h a l l e n g e d the o r d e r of r u s t i c a t i o n as v i o l a t i v e of r u l e s of n a t u r a l j u s t i c e. T h e M.P. C o u r t held that there w a s n o v i o l a t i o n of any r u l e s of the n a t u r a l J u s t i c e on the g r o u n d t h a t s h e w a s n o t e x a m i n e d in p r e s e n c e of p e t i t i o n e r and

78 that he had n o o p p o r t u n i t y to c r o s s - e x a m i n e her. C o u r t held that p e t i t i o n e r Mas g i v e n fair o p p o r t u n i t y to meet the c h a r g e s a g a i n s t him. An i n t e r e s t i n g c a s e of Bujadhar Prasad Misra V Vice-Chancellor, University of AllahabadI 7 w h e r e a s t u d e n t had been e x p e l l e d by the V i c e - C h a n c e l l o r from the U n i v e r s i t y w i t h i m m e d i a t e e f f e c t and he was d i s q u a l i f i e d from being a d m i t t e d to the U n i v e r s i t y in future. T h e s t a t u t e s of the A l l a h a b a d U n i v e r s i t y p r e s c r i b e d that V i c e - C h a n c e l l o r s h o u l d be r e s p o n s i b l e for m a i n t a i n i n g d i s c i p l i n e in the U n i v e r s i t y and he w a s c o n f e r r e d w i t h a p p r o p r i a t e p o w e r s for this p u rpose. T h e q u e s t i o n b e f o r e the Full B e n c h of the A l l a h a b a d H i g h C o u r t w a s w h e t h e r the V i c e - C h a n c e l l o r of the A l l a h a b a d U n i v e r s i t y w a s r e q u i r e d to p e r f o r m q u a s i - j u d i c i a l f u n c t i o n in i n f l i c t i n g p u n i s h m e n t u p o n s t u d e n t s for b r e a c h of d i s c i p l i n e. It was held by m a j o r i t y that! a) the p u n i s h m e n t of the V i c e - C h a n c e l l o r m u s t be j u d g e d in s e t t i n g of S e c t i o n - 6 of the A l l a h a b a d U n i v e r s i t y A c t w h i c h e x p r e s s l y p r o v i d e d that the U n i v e r s i t y! i) is op e n to all, and ii) e n s u r e s that n o o n e a r b i t r a r i l y be d e p r i - p r i v e d of the r i g h t of s t u d y in the U n i v e r s i t y. and it is s e t t l e d law that the r i g h t to r e c e i v e e d u c a t i o n is a basic r i g h t in a d e m o c r a c y ; b) V i c e - C h a n c e l l o r, c a n n o t r e m o v e the s t u d e n t from th B r o l l s of the U n i v e r s i t y, o n l y because, in h i s s u b j e c t i v e o p i n i o n, t h e s t u d e n t is an u n d e -

79 s i r a b l e p e r s o n or he d o e s n o t like the student) c) w h e t h e r o r n o t a s t u d e n t h a s b r e a c h e d the d i s c i p l i n e of the U n i v e r s i t y, can only be d e c i d e d o b j e c t i v e l y on the b a s i s of the material a v a i l a b l e and is not c a p a b l e of being d e t e r m i n e d on the s u b j e c t i v e o p i n i o n of the V i c e - C h a n c e l lor. d) In a w a r d i n g p u n i s h m e n t the V i c e - C h a n c e l l o r is r e q u i r e d to a c t j u d i c i a l l y - H e n c e the V i c e - C h a n c e l l o r is r e q u i r e d to p e r f o r m q u a s i - j u d i c i a l f u n c t i o n in i n f l i c t i n g p u n i s h m e n t s u p o n s t u d e n t s for the b r e a c h of d i s c i p l i n e. 1i3i3 Quantum of Punishment T h e q u a n t u m of p u n i s h m e n t c a n be d e c i d e d or looked i n t o by the C o u r t s 8 8. H o w e v e r, t h e q u a n t u m of p u n i s h m e n t has t o be d e c i d e d by the a u t h o r i t y w h o is r e s p o n s i b l e for m a i n t e n a n c e of d i s c i p l i n e of t h e i n s t i t u t i o n. B u c h a u t h o r i t y being r e s p o n s i b l e for the w e l f a r e of t h e s t u d e n t s as a whole, is the b e s t j u d g e to s a y that p u n i B h m e n t s h o u l d be a w a r d e d, r e g a r d being had to the w e l f a r e of the g e n e r a l s t u d e n t s. C o m m u n i t y at large, i n d i s c i p l i n e c o m m i t t e d by t h e p a r t i c u l a r s t u d e n t o r g r o u p of s t u d e n t s ) its e f f e c t o n the m o r a l e and e f f i c i e n c y of the i n s t i t u t i o n and i t s s t u d e n t s. T h e s e are m a t t e r s w h i c h c a n b e b e s t bb d e t e r m i n e d by t h e h e a d s of the i n s t i t u t i o n s s u b j e c t to the c o n f i r m a t i o n by the U n i v e r s i t y.

80 C. Distance Education. Rt»grv«tion and N»w Social Order: T h e r e s e r v a t i o n of B e a t s is m a d e u n d e r the C o n s t i t u t i o n a l m a n d a t e for s c h e d u l e c a s t e s and s c h e d u l e tribes, for the w a r d s of g o v e r n m e n t e m p l o y e e s ; d e f e n c e p e r s o n n e l or U n i v e r s i t y employees, for the r e s i d e n t s of the State, d i s t r i c t or rural areas, for s t u d e n t s of s a m e U n i v e r s i t y, for political s u f f e r e r s ; etc. The r e s e r v a t i o n p o l i c y r e d u c e s the n u m b e r of s e a t s a v a i l a b l e for open c o m p e t i t i o n and e v e n t h o u g h a c a n d i d a t e m i g h t h a v e an e x c e l l e n t a c a d e m i c r e c o r d in his p r e v i o u s e x a m i n a t i o n, the r e s e r v a t i o n s y s t e m c o u l d still r e s t r i c t his o p p o r t u n i t i e s to g e t an e n t r y in the e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t e of his choice. R e s e r v a t i o n r e s u l t s in a d m i s s i o n to t h o s e w h o a r e less m e r i t o r i o u s than t h o s e for w h o m th e r e ib n o r e s e r v a t i o n ^. T h i s is o n e of the a r e a w h i c h has c a u s e d lot of c o n t r o v e r s i e s and led to litigation. T h e S u p r e m e C o u r t and H i g h C o u r t s w e r e c o n f r o n t e d w i t h m a x i m u m c a s e s on reset v a t i o n of s e a t s in e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s, p a r t i c u l a r l y medical col leges. 1i4 Rsservaticn i Schedule Caste and Schedule TribesI T h e A r t i c l e g u a r a n t e e s to e v e r y p e r s o n the r i g h t not to be d e n i e d B q u a l i t y b e f o r e law o r the equal p r o t e c t i o n of Law. T h e A r t i c l e p r o h i b i t s t h e s t a t e t o d i s c r i m i n a t e a g a i n s t the c i t i z e n s on t h e g r o u n d o n l y of r e l i g i o u s, sex, caste, p l a c e of birth or any of them. U n d e r A r t i c l e 15(4) of the C o n s t i t u t i o n the s t a t e is e m p o w e r e d to m a k e s p e c i a l p r o v i s i o n f o r a d v a n c e m e n t of the S c h e d u l e C a s t e s and S c h e d u l e d Tribes. T h e S t a t e is t h u s u n d e r an o b l i g a t i o n to p r o m o t e w i t h s p e c i a l c a r e the e d u c a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t s p a r t i c u l a r l y of s a i d c o m m u n i t i e s. T h e b a c k w a r d n e s s m u «t be

81 both social and e d u c a t i o n a l, What g r o u p s of p e o p l e in the s t a t e c o n s t i t u t e b a c k w a r d c l a s s is left for the s t a t e to d e t e r m i n e. The S t a t e h a s to a d o p t a p r o p e r c r i t e r i o n for d e t e r m i n i n g the b a c k w a r d classes. M e r e e d u c a t i o n a l b a c k w a r d n e s s or i n a d e q u a t e r e p r e s e n t a tion in s e r v i c e s is not e nough. R e s e r v a t i o n of s e a t s in e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s for s t u d ents of the b a c k w a r d c l a s s e s and the S c h e d u l e C a s t e s and S c h e d u l e T r i b e s is f u l l y c o v e r e d by A r t i c l e 15(4). B u t the 9 t a t e u n d e r the gu i s e of m a k i n g s p e c i a l p r o v i s i o n for the a d v a n c e m e n t of w e a k e r s e c t i o n s in the s o c i e t y, c a n n o t r e s e r v e all s e a t s a v a i l a b l e in the e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s s o as to e x c l u d e the a d m i s s i o n of d e s e r v i n g a n d q u a l i f i e d c a n d i d a t e s of o t h e r c o m m u n i t i e s. National i n t e r e s t w o u l d s u f f e r if q u a l i f i e d and c o m p e t e n t s t u d e n t s are e x c l u d e d for a d m i s s i o n in i n s t i t u t i o n s of h i g h e r learning. A b a l a n c e is to be s t r u c k b e t w e e n the s t a t e s o b l i g a t i o n to p r o m o t e e d u c a t i o n of w e a k e r s e c t i o n s of s o c i e t y and the m e r i t o r i o u s s t u d e n t s on the o t h e r. L e t u s n o w a n a l y s e v a r i o u s p r o b l e m s w h i c h been c o n f r o n t e d by the C o u r t s in t h i s area. O n e of the b o n e s of c o n t e n t i o n in t h i s a r e a h a s been a e to wh a t m a x i m u m m a r k s c a n be p r e s c r i b e d for the c a n d i d a t e s b e l o n g i n g to S c h e d u l e C a s t e s and S c h e d u l e d T r i b e s in o r d e r to b e c o m e e l i g i ble for a d m i s s i o n to the m e d i c a l c o l l e g e s. T h e P a t n a H i g h C o u r t up s e t a d i r e c t i v e p r e s c r i b i n g 39/1 as m i n i m u m q u a l i f y i n g m a r k s for the said c o m m u n i t i e s. W h e r e a s for o t h e r s the m i n i m u m w a s S O X. On a c c o u n t of t h i s r e s e r v a t i o n p o l i c y the P e t i t i o n e r w h o had s e c u r e d 72'/. m a r k s c o u l d n o t g e t a d m i s s i o n. All t h e t h r e e J u d g e s held that r e s e r v a t i o n w a s v i o l a t i v e of Art. 1 3 ( 1 ) 9 3. S i n h a J, s h o w i n g h i s d i s p l e a s u r e o v e r t h e r e d u c t i o n in t h e e l i g i b i l i t y o b s e r v e d,

82 "The c a n d i d a t e s h a v i n g d i s m a l l y low p e r c e n t a g e of marks, a d m i t t e d to the p o r t a l s of M edical C o l l e g e w o u l d n o t be a b l e to p a s s - o u t s u c c e s s f u l l y at the final e x a m i n a t i o n. T h e J u d g e w a r n e d that if by somi e x e c u t i v e fiat s u c h c a n d i d a t e s w h o are u n a b l e to p a s s - o u t final test are d e c l a r e d to having been passed the M B B B c ourse, s u c h q u a c k s would be let loose on s o c i e t y w i t h d a n g e r o u B c o n s e q u e n c e s ". T h u s the C o u r t i n s i s t e d on m i n i m u m q u a l i f y i n g m a r k s e v e n in ca s e s of r e s e r v e d c a t e g o r y. T h e R a j a s t h a n H i g h C o u r t 94 v a l i d a t e d the o r d e r of the g o v e r n m e n t r e l a x i n g t h e m i n i m u m m a r k s in p r e - m e d i c a l test u p t o 35"/. in case of c a n d i d a t e s b e l o n g i n g to the S c h e d u l e d C a s t e s and S c h e d u l e d Tribes. T h e C o u r t u p h e l d the o r d e r on the g r o u n d s that it d o e s not relax the m i n i m u m e l i g i b i l i t y of p a s s i n g the q u a l i f y i n g e x a m i n a tion p r e s c r i b e d for the p u r p o s e of a d m i s s i o n to the M B B S c o u r s e and that r e l a x a t i o n in t h e m i n i m u m q u a l i f y i n g m a r k s at the s t a g e to the a d m i s s i o n to the M e d i c a l C o l l e g e can have n o b e a r i n g on the e f f i c i e n c y of the M e d i c a l E d u c a t i o n and M e d i c a l S e r v i c e ' ^ 5. A n o t h e r i m p o r t a n t p r o b l e m is c a n the g o v e r n m e n t by an a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d i r e c t i o n r e l a x c o m p l e t e l y the r e q u i r e m e n t s of m i n i m u m marks, the H i g h C o u r t of M a d h a y a P r a d e s h 96 and P a t n a 97 held that total r e l a x a t i o n w a s n o t p e r m i s s i b l e u n d e r Art. 15(4) of the C o n s t i t u t i o n. T h o u g h the s t a t e w a s c o m p e t e n t to d o e v e r y thing p o s s i b l e for u p l i f t m e n t of the said c o m m u n i t i e s and c o n f e r real b e n e f i t s on t h o s e c a s t e s and lay d o w n the s t a n d a r d s of a d m i s s i o n for them w h i c h s h o u l d n o t be s o h i g h as to m a k e the c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r e f e r e n t i a l d i s c r i m i n a t i o n e n t i r e l y i l l u s o r y, y e t at the same

83 1 7 7 time the d e s e r v i n g c a n d i d a t e * of o t h e r c o m m u n i t i e s m u s t n o t be unduly r e s t r i c t e d in the m a t t e r s of admission. The r e s e r v a t i o n does n o t m e a n p u t t i n g a p r e m i u m on i n e f f i c i e n c y. The 8 t a t e of M a d h y a P r a d e s h p r e f e r r e d an appeal by special leave to t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t c h a l l e n g i n g the c o r r e c t n e s s of the d e c i s i o n of t h e M a d h a y a P r a d e s h H i g h Court. T h e S u p r e m e O o u r t in Stata of M.P. V Nivmdita Jain*B d e c l a r e d that total r e l a x a t i o n as not v i o l a t i v e of Art. 14, 15(1) or 29 of the C o n s t i t u t i o n. The Court a d o p t e d the a p p r o a c h t h a t the A r t i c l e 15(4) p r o v i d e s for r e s e r v a t i o n in f a v o u r of the said c a s t e s it s h o u l d be g i v e n real m e aning. A. N. S e n J, r e j e c t e d the s t a n d of the H i g h C o u r t s of M a d h a y a P r a d e s h and P a t n a t h a t r e l a x a t i o n w o u l d lower d o w n the B t a n d a r d of m e d i c a l e d u c a t i o n. T h e C o u r t took the s t a n d that r e l a x a t i o n w a s m a d e a t the a d m i s s i o n s t a g e and the s t a n d a r d of Medical E d u c a t i o n o r c u r r i c u l u m of s t u d i e s in M e d i c a l C o l l e g e s for t h o s e c a n d i d a t e s a f t e r t h e i r a d m i s s i o n to the c o l l e g e s and the s t a n d a r d of e x a m i n a t i o n and c u r r i c u l u m r e m a i n B t h e s a m e for all. T h e P u n j a b a n d H a r y a n a H i g h C o u r t 9 *^ w a s c o n f r o n t e d w i t h a q u e s t i o n a s to how long and u p t o w h a t s t a g e of c o u r s e of s t u d y r e s e r v a t i o n of S c h e d u l e d C a s t e and S c h e d u l e d T r i b e w a s p e r m i s s i ble. In t h i s c a s e P. O. I. of M e d i c a l E d u c a t i o n, C h a n d i g a r h In its a d v e r t i s e m e n t for a d m i s s i o n to D.M. and M. C h c o u r s e s p r o v i d e d r e s e r v a t i o n f o r S C a n d S T in the r a n g e b e t w e e n 3 3 % a n d 50V. w h i l e as P0I, r u l e s 27 p r o v i d e d r e s e r v a t i o n o n l y f o r 20'/.. T h e H i g h C o u r t s e t a s i d e t h e a b o v e r e s e r v a t i o n on t h e g r o u n d that it n e g a t ed the e q u a l i t y c l a u s e a l t o g e t h e r., C o u r t o b s e r v e d that a t h i g h e r levels of e d u c a t i o n in M e d i c i n e ---- t h e r e s h o u l d n o t be any r e s e r v a t i o n at all.

84 The A.P. H i g h C o u r t in D.Sridmvi V A.P. Agricultarm University^0 took a s e r i o u s v i e w of the a f f a i r s in the A.P. A g r i c u l t u r e U n i v e r s i t y w h e r e w i t h o u t any g u i d e l i n e s s e a t s for SC and 9T w e r e so d i s t r i b u t e d that it a l m o s t c l o s e d the d o o r s for all top r a n k i n g c andidates. R a j u J, w h i l e q u a s h i n g the r e s e r v a t i o n s o b served: "For a c a d e m i c s w h o a r e c o n c e r n e d w i t h the h i g h e r s t a n d a r d s of a c a d e m i c e x c e l l e n c e, and, d i s s e m i n a tion of k n o w l e d g e and research, s u c h a result s h o u l d be s h o c k i n g. To m e as a layman w h o has r e v e r e n c e and r e s p e c t for k n o w l e d g e and h i g h e r a c a d e m i c s t a n d a r d s, it is s e v e r e b l o w to the p r i n c i p l e s of j u s t i c e a s u n d e r s t o o d by the s o c i e t y at l a r g e ". In yet a n o t h e r c a s e a girl b e l o n g i n g to h i g h c a s t e m a r r i e d a boy of the law c a s t e S c h e d u l e T r i b e c o m m u n i t y and c l a i m e d a d m i s s i o n to a r e s e r v e d s e a t in a p o s t - g r a d u a t e H o m e S c i e n c e C o u r s e. T h e A.P. H i g h C o u r t t u r n e d d o w n the s a i d c l a i m r u l e d that " s u c h person has n o t g o n e t h r o u g h the s t r e s s e s and s t r a i n s or s u f f e r e d any e n v i r o n m e n t a l d i s a d v a n t a g e s, the real b a c k w a r d c l a s s c i t i z e n faced. T h e C o u r t w a r n e d thati "If t h e y w e r e p e r m i t t e d to i n v o k e the b e n e f i t and p r o t e c t i o n a v a i l a b l e to c l a s s e s of p e r s o n s who r e a l l y s u f f e r f r o m e n v i r o n m e n t a l d i s a d v a n t a g e s and i n c i d e n t a l s t r e s s e s and s t r a i n s, it a m o u n t s to w h i t t l e d o w n the o b j e c t i v e of r e s e r v a t i o n. " But this r u l e w a s n o t a c c e p t e d by t h e C o u r t in Dr. R.Um* Dmvi a w h e r e a girl of h i g h c a s t e m a r r i e d a b a c k w a r d c l a s s boy

85 after the c o m p l e t i o n of M B B S d e g r e e and s h e c l a i m e d r e s e r v a t i o n seat for P o s t - G r a d u a t e course. T h e C o u r t a l l o w e d her c l a i m and she w a s a d m i t t e d to a course. It is s u b m i t t e d that C o u r t i n c o r r e c t l y d e e m e d her to pass t h r o u g h s u c h s t a t e of a f f a i r s to get the privilege. The S t a t e l i b e r a l i s m a n d r e l a x a t i o n in the c a s e of c a n d i d a t e s b e l o n g i n g to the S c h e d u l e C a s t e and S c h e d u l e d T r i b e s has g i v e n r i s e to m a l p r a c tices. It is t h e r e f o r e s u g g e s t e d that c l e a r c u t g u i d e l i n e s s h o u l d be framed s o as to a v o i d any c o n f u s i o n in future. isstl Reservation of Inservice Candidates T h e r u l e for s e l e c t i o n for a d m i s s i o n to P o s t - G r a d u a t e c o u r s es in t h e M e d i c a l C o l l e g e of B o a p r o v i d e d that o n l y t h o s e c a n d i d a t e s w h o a r e w o r k i n g in the i n s t i t u t i o n s a s r e s i d e n t s o r d e m o n s t r a t o r s w o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d for a d m i s s i o n w h e r e as o t h e r will be c o n s i d e r e d p r o v i d e d t h e r e is a v a c a n c y. S u c h r e s e r v a t i o n was s t r u c k d o w n by the J u d i c i a l C o m m i s s i o n e r of G o a on the g r o u n d that r e s p o n d e n t c o u l d n o t s a t i s f y the C o u r t as to w h a t w a s the n e e d of s u c h r e s e r v a t i o n and as s u c h c l a s s i f i c a t i o n b e i n g a r b i t r a r y v i o lated Art B u t w h e r e t h e S t a t e G o v e r n m e n t j u s t i f i e d 104 the r e a s o n a b l e n e s s of the c l a s s i f i c a t i o n for i n s e r v i c e c a n d i d a t e s on the g r o u n d that t h e s e c a n d i d a t e s, o n c e e q u i p p e d w i t h latest t e c h n i q u e, w o u l d r e n d e r g r e a t e r s e r v i c e s to the p e o p l e for w h o s e b e n e f i t s u c h 109 s e r v i c e s w e r e c o n s t i t u t e d the r e s e r v a t i o n w a s u p h e l d

86 160 1:5 s 2 R e s e r v a t i o n f o r w a r d s of G o v e r n m e n t / U n i v e r s i t y E n n l n v i e s i T h e p r o s p e c t u s of the M o u l a n a A z a d M e d i c a l C o llege, Delhi prescribed the c a t e g o r i e s of s t u d e n t s e l i g i b l e for a d m i s s i o n to first y e a r M. B. B. S. c o u r s e. T h e s e c a t e g o r i e s included s o n s and d a u g h t e r s of C e n t r a l G o v e r n m e n t s e r v a n t s posted in Indian M i s s i o n s abroad. T h i s p r o v i s i o n w a s c h a l l e n g e d on the g r o u n d that such r e s e r v a t i o n w a s n o t based on any r e a s o n a b l e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n and a t t r a c t e d the p r o v i s i o n of A r t. 1 4, 1 3 and 2 9 of the C o n s t i t u t i o n. The S u p r e m e C o u r t 106 r e j e c t e d the a r g u m e n t and held t h a t c l a s s i f i c a t i o n w a s r e a s o n a b l e b e c a u s e w a r d s of the g o v e r n m e n t s e r v a n t s s e r v i n g in Indian M i s s i o n s a b r o a d a r e facing lot of d i f f i c u l t i e s in the m a t t e r s of a d m i s s i o n, m o r e o v e r, they c o u l d not g e t a d m i s sion e a s i l y in f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s. In P.M.Batra V H.D. University107 the D i v i s i o n B e n c h of the P & H H i g h C o u r t q u a s h e d the r e s e r v a t i o n of 19% of the U n i v e r s i t y E m p l o y e e s and t h e i r w a r d s and g a v e t h e s e s e a t s to m e r i t o r i o u s c a n d i d a t e s. S i m i l a r l y in P.K.Goel V UP Medical Council10 in a d m i s s i o n to P o s t - g r a d u a t e M e d i c a l C o u r s e 7 9 % s e a t s w e r e r e s e r v e d for i n s t i t u t i o n a l c a n d i d a t e s. S u c h r e s e r v a t i o n w a s c h a l l e n g e d on the g r o u n d t h a t it is v i o l a t i v e of A r t. 14 & 13. T h e S u p r e m e C o u r t s t r u c k d o w n t h e r e s e r v a t i o n and d i r e c t e d the g o v e r n m e n t to m a k e a d m i s s i o n in a c c o r d a n c e to c o m b i n e d m e r i t list. 109 In Chairman, Combinmd Entrance Examination V Osiris Das*'. 9% s e a t s w e r e r e s e r v e d for the w a r d s of the U n i v e r s i t y E m p l o y e e s. The 9% s e a t s w e r e n o t f r o m t h e total s e a t s but o v e r and a b o v e s a n c t i o n e d s e a t s. S u p r e m e C o u r t d e c l a r e d s u c h r e s e r v a t i o n a s v i o l a t i v e of A r t. 14 a s t h e r e w a s n e i t h e r any r a t i o n a l e for s u c h r e s e r v a t i o n, n o r a n y n e x u s to the o b j e c t s o u g h t to be a c h i e v e d the

87 m In U n i v e r s i t y of K a shmir, 2V. s e a t s are s e r v e d for the w a r d s of the U n i v e r s i t y E m p l o y e e s, o u t of the total s e a t s p r o vided, for a d m i s s i o n to the P o s t - G r a d u a t e c ourses. S u c h a r e s e r v a t i o n is based on r e a s o n a b l e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n t h e r e f o r e v a l i d But the case of M e d i c a l E d u c a t i o n s u c h c l a s s i f i c a t i o n or r e s e r v a t i o n c a n n o t be a c c e p t e d b e c a u s e e d u c a t i o n is the m o s t i m p o r t a n t f u n c tion of t h e s t a t e t o d a y and is the very f o u n d a t i o n of good c i t i zenship. N o c h i l d r e a s o n a b l y be e x p e c t e d to s u c c e e d in life, if he w a s d e n i e d the o p p o r t u n i t y of e d u c a t i o n. ' It f o l l o w s that a d m i s sion to the e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s can o n l y be on the b a s i s of merit. Any rule p r o v i d i n g for p r e f e r e n c e to be s h o w n for the m e d i o c r e c a n n o t be j u s t i f i e d, even if the m e d i o c r e c h i l d r e n h a p pened to be the c h i l d r e n of the U n i v e r s i t y e m p l o y e e s. ' lnsj3 Reservation i 8ports»en/Ex-Servlce»eni W h e r e t h e r e is r e s e r v a t i o n of s e a t s in M e d i c a l C o l l e g e for o u t s t a n d i n g s p o r t s m e n and the P e t i t i o n e r had the r e q u i s i t e g r a d u a t i o n c e r t i f i c a t e i s s u e d by the D i r e c t o r of Sports, a d m i s s i o n to the r e s e r v e d s e a t c a n n o t be r e f u s e d on the g r o u n d that the h o c k e y team in w h i c h t h e p e t i t i o n e r w a s a m e m b e r had n o t r e a c h e d the final a n d that c e r t i f i c a t e had been w r o n g l y i s s u e d by t h e D i r e c t o r of S p o r t s. 1 1 ^ S i m i l a r l y r e s e r v a t i o n for s o n s and d a u g h t e r s of exs e r v i c e m e n is n o t v i o l a t i v e of A r t. 14 and 13. In Sardool Singh V Mmdicml C o l t h e J a m m u and K a s h m i r H i g h C o u r t u p h e l d 3% r e s e r v a t i o n for the s o n s and d a u g h t e r s o f s e r v i c e m e n o r exs e r v i c e m e n. T h e r e s e r v a t i o n w a s a c c e p t e d as vital on the g r o u n d that " h a v i n g r e g a r d to the d e l i c a t e and d i f f i c u l t n a t u r e of the d u t i e s p e r f o r m e d and t h e i n v a l u a b l e s e r v i c e s r e n d e r e d by the

88 member* of the d e f e n c e s e r v i c e to our country", w h o, have to be transferred from o n e p l a c e to a n o t h e r and s o m e t i m e * to u n k n o w n d e s t i n a t i o n s m o s t of w h i c h a r e not family s t a t i o n p r o v i d i n g for education f a c i l i t i e s to their c h i l d r e n special f a c i l i t i e s may be given in t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s to their c h i l d r e n, so that they may be a b l e to d i s c h a r g e their d u t i e s c a r e f u l l y, b o l d l y and freely having been fully s e c u r e d a g a i n s t their d o m e s t i c and personal worries. In H a r s m e e p S i n g h Kang V P u n j a b U n i v e r s i t y The p e t i t i o n er an a p p l i c a n t for a d m i s s i o n to B a c h e l o r of E n g i n e e r i n g (BE) c o u r s e on the r e s e r v e d q u o t a of Sports, w a s not a d j u s t e d a g a i n s t the r e s e r v e d quota. T h e p e t i t i o n e r r e p r e s e n t e d the P u n j a b C r i c k e t Te a m in t h e " V i j a y M e r c h a n t T r o p h y " and his t e a m won the national c h a m p i o n s h i p. F o r t h i s a c h i e v e m e n t not o n l y M a s s M e d i a high l i g h t ed the e v e n t b u t e v e n t h e Q o v e r n o r h o n o r e d the team. T h e U n i v e r s i ty w i t h no r u l e s or g u i d e l i n e s in thib r e g a r d r e j e c t e d the a p p l i cation. C o u r t held that the refusal of a d m i s s i o n w a s a r b i t r a r y and v i o l a t i v e of A r t. 14 of the C o n s t i t u t i o n. 1«5:4 Reservation! Political Sufferers/Freedom Fiohtersi R e s e r v a t i o n in f a v o u r of p e r s o n s w h o w e r e taken into c u s t o d y or w e r e i n j u r e d for t a k i n g part in a g i t a t i o n a g a i n s t t h e B r i t i s h rule o r w h o f o u g h t in Indian f r e e d o m s t r u g g l e, s u c h a r e s e r v a t i o n for s u c h p e r s o n s or t h e i r w a r d s is valid. In a c a s e in w h i c h the a p p e l l a n t s o u g h t a d m i s s i o n to o n e of the G o v e r n m e n t s e a t s in the Medical C o l l e g e u n d e r a s p e c i a l c a t e g o r y r e s e r v e d for the s o n s of P o l i t i c a l S u f f e r e r s o r F r e e d o m F i g h t e r s. T h e S u p r e m e C o u r t held that a p e r s o n to b e a " P o l i t i c a l S u f f e r e r " m u s t h a v e " s u f f e r e d " in the w a y s m e n t i o n e d in the rules. W h e r e a p e r s o n h a s been d e t a i n e d

89 16 3 in a a g i t a t i o n a n d n o t h i n g ib c l e a r as to the n a t u r e of agitation, the r e s e r v a t i o n c a n n o t be c l a i m e d m e r e l y on t h e g r o u n d of p a r t i c ipation in a g i t a t i o n or d e t e n t i o n in Jail. T h u s G o v e r n m e n t s h o u l d always be c l e a r and p r e c i s e r e g a r d i n g this category, for the pu r p o s e s of t h e b e n e f i t of r e s e r v a t i o n The U n i v e r s i t y of Kashmir, a l l o w s r e s e r v a t i o n of 2/4 s e a t s for the w a r d s of P o l i t i c a l 8 u f f e r e r s / F r e e d o m F i g h t e r s in the a d m i s s i o n to t h e P o s t / g r a d u a t e courses. S u c h a r e s e r v a t i o n is valid, b e c a u s e the w a r d s of s u c h " p o litical s u f f e r e r s " m u s t have "suffered" for the p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t i e s of their parents. In D.N. Chanchala V Stats of M y s o r e 1 t h e r e w e r e c a s e s w h e r e g o v e r n m e n t m a d e r e s e r v a t i o n in f a v o u r of w a r d s of political sufferers. T h e S u p r e m e C o u r t u p h e l d s u c h r e s e r v a t i o n on the g r o u n d that b e c a u s e " t h e i r p a r t i c i p a t i o n in the e m a n c i p a t i o n s t r u g g l e b e c a m e u n s e t t l e d in life; in s o m e c a s e s e c o n o m i c a l l y r u i n e d and w e r e not in a p o s i t i o n to m a k e a v a i l a b l e to their c h i l d r e n that c l a s s of e d u c a t i o n w h i c h w o u l d p l a c e them in fair c o m p e t i t i o n w i t h the c h i l d r e n of t h o s e w h o d i d n o t s u f f e r f r o m this d i s a d v a n t a g e ". H o wever, D u a J d i s s e n t i n g o p i n e d t h a t t h e s e p e r s o n s had taken part in the N a t i o n a l M o v e m e n t s o m e " t h r e e d e c a d e s age" w h i c h a c c o r d i n g to the l e a r n e d j u d g e was, far t o o r e m o t e in p o i n t of t i m e in se r v i n g as a r a t i o n a l basis." 1 :2r6 R e s e r v a t i o n» q u a n t u m i Ev e n w h e r e the r e s e r v a t i o n for a p a r t i c u l a r c a t e g o r y m a y be t h e o r e t i c a l l y p e r m i s s i b l e, legal c o m p l i c a t i o n c o u l d a r i s e if the q u a n t u m ( n u m b e r of seats) so r e s e r v e d is e x c e s s i v e. J u d i c i a l o p i n i o n on t h i s p o i n t has been f l u c t u a t i n g. O n e f i n d s for e x a m p l e

90 a p r o n o u n c e m e n t of S u p r e m e C o u r t 117 i n v a l i d a t i n g an o r d e r of the G o v e r n m e n t of M y s o r e p r o v i d i n g for r e s e r v a t i o n of s e a t s in T e c h n i cal I n s t i t u t i o n s to the e x t e n t of 68'/. of the total seats. The S u p r e m e C o u r t o b s e r v e d, In t h i s m a t t e r a g a i n Me a r e r e l u c t a n t to say d e f i n i t e l y M h a t s h o u l d be p r o p e r p r o v i s i o n to make. S p e a k i n g g e n e r a l l y and in b r oadmay, a special p r o v i s i o n s h o u l d be less than 50V.. H o w m u c h less than 30% w o u l d d e p e n d upon the r e l e v a n t p r e v a i l i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s in e a c h case. H o w e v e r in 1980, r e s e r v a t i o n to the e x t e n t of 7 0 % w a s u p h e l d by S u p r e m e C o u r t 1 1, t h o u g h M i t h s o m e r e l u c t a n c e, in a c a s e r e l a t ing to r e s e r v a t i o n of s e a t s in P o s t - G r a d u a t e M e d i c a l C o l l a g e s in Delhi. T h i s r u l i n g w a s c o m p e l l e d by the stark fact that o t h e r s t a t e s s h o w e d a p a r o c h i a l a p p r o a c h, w h i c h bangs, b a r s and bolts the d o o r s for m e d i c a l e d u c a t i o n to o u t s i d e r s. S o m e o f t h e H i g h C o u r t s held that r e s e r v a t i o n c a n n o t be so p r o v i d e d for a s to g i v e a m o n o p o l y to p e r s o n s of r e s e r v e d c a t e gory, t h e r e b y t o t a l l y e x c l u d i n g p e r s o n s in the g e n e r a l pool. A c c o r d i n g to t h e s e H i g h C o u r t d e c i s i o n s 1 1 9, A r t. 15(4) of the C o n s t i t u t i o n w h i c h is an e x c e p t i o n to t h e A r t. 15 (1) c a n n o t t o t a l l y o v e r r i d e it. T h i s p a r t i c u l a r line of r e a s o n i n g w a s n o t a p p r o v e d by the S u p r e m e C o u r t and d i d n o t held r e s e r v a t i o n for S C and ST e x c e e d i n g f i f t y p e r c e n t to be v o i d 120

91 1 i6 j 1 R e r v a t i o n f o r B a c k w a r d C l a a a w i S t a t e has been e m p o w e r e d to m a k e any special p r o v i s i o n u n d e r A r t i c l e 15(4) for a d v a n c e m e n t of s o c i a l l y and e d u c a t i o n a l l y b a c k ward c l a s s e s of the c i t i z e n s. T h e C o n s t i t u t i o n n o w h e r e s t a t e s as to w h o shall be c o n s i d e r e d as the m e m b e r of the b a c k w a r d class. It s i m p l y r e q u i r e s that s u c h a c l a s s s h o u l d be " s o c i a l l y and e d u c a tionally b a c k w a r d ". It is left to the s t a t e to d e t e r m i n e a s to w h i c h g r o u p of t h e c i t i z e n s shall be c o n s i d e r e d as b e l o n g i n g to the b a c k w a r d c l a s s e s. T h e d i f f e r e n t s t a t e s h a v e p r o v i d e d d i f f e r e n t basis for d e t e r m i n a t i o n of b a c k w a r d n e s s, for e x a m p l e i n c o m e test c a s t e test and e d u c a t i o n test. It is for the c o u r t s to d e c i d e the c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y of the b a s i s Regarding the q u e s t i o n - c a n income a l o n e be c r i t e r i o n for c l a s s i f i c a t i o n the S u p r e m e C o u r t in K.S.Jayaarmm V Statm of K r a i a 122 held that p o v e r t y a l o n e c a n n o t be the f a c t o r in d e t e r m i n i n g the social b a c k w a r d n e s s. However, the C o u r t held that i n c o m e is a r e l e v a n t f a c t o r as it c o n t r i b u t e s to the social b a c k w a r d n e s s. T h e o t h e r r e l e v a n t f a c t o r c o u l d be the caste. In t h i s c a s e C o u r t u p h e l d t h e test w h i c h c o m b i n e d c a s t e i n c o m e. In Statm of Andra Pradash V P. S a g a r 1 2 ^ the list of the b a c k w a r d c l a s s e s e x f a c i e based on c a s t e w a s turned d o w n by the S u p r e m e C o u r t as v i o l a t i v e of A r t. l S ( 4 ). T h e C o u r t p o i n t e d o u t that e x p r e s s i o n "class" m e a n s a h o m o g e n e o u s s e c t i o n of p e o p l e g r o u p e d t o g e t h e r b e c a u s e of c e r t a i n l i k e n e s s e s o r c o m m o n t r a i t s and i d e n t i f i a b l e by s o m e c o m m o n a t t r i b u t e s s u c h a s status, rank, o c c u p a tion, r e s i d e n c e in a locality, race, r e l i g i o n and the like. The C o u r t o b s e r v e d t h a t in d e t e r m i n i n g of a class, a test s o l e l y based upon t h e c a s t e or c o m m u n i t y c a n n o t be a c c e p t e d. T h e r e a s o n for this c o n c l u s i o n is t h a t a r t i c l e 19(4) p r o v i d e s p r e f e r e n t i a l t r e a t

92 ment in f a v o u r of c U b b b s w h i c h a r e s o c i a l l y and e d u c a t i o n a l l y b a ckward w h e r e a r e s e r v a t i o n m a d e on the basis of c a s t e would offend a r t i c l e i S ( i ) S i m i l a r l y the S u p r e m e C o u r t later in a n o t h e r j u d g m e n t 125 g a v e e x c l u s i v e i m p o r t a n c e to e c o n o m i c f a c tors, social f a c t o r s e.g. p o v e r t y and c a s t e factor a s the test for d e t e r m i n a t i o n of a c l a s s as s o c i a l l y and e d u c a t i o n a l l y backward. The c o n c e p t of b a c k w a r d n e s s is s u b j e c t to c h a n g e w i t h the c h a n g i n g c o n d i t i o n s and c i r c u m s t a n c e s. The g o v e r n m e n t s h o u l d not t h e r e f o r e p r o c e e d on the b a s i s that "one* a p a r t i c u l a r c l a s s is d e c l a r e d a s b a c k w a r d for the p u r p o s e s of the r e s e r v a t i o n it should c o n t i n u e to be b a c k w a r d for all times. T h e G o v e r n m e n t should a l w a y s r e v i e w t h e q u e s t i o n of r e s e r v a t i o n and o n l y those c l a s s e s w h i c h a r e r e a l l y s o c i a l l y and e d u c a t i o n a l l y b a c k w a r d s h o u l d be a l l o w e d the b e n e f i t of r e s e r v a t i o n. In a b s e n c e of s u c h a r e v i e w the K e r a l a H i g h C o u r t 126 p o i n t e d o u t thati "it is p o s s i b l e that c o n t i n u a n c e of s u c h a special provi Bion to b e n e f i t them w o u l d be c o n f e r r i n g a p r i v i l e g e or a b e n e f i t to the d e t r i m e n t of the rest." T h u s t h e r e s e r v a t i o n p o l i c y i s a t e m p o r a r y phenomenon so that members o f t h e s e c l a s s e s m a y t a k B - o f f in the o u t e r w o rld o f c l a s s - l e s B s o c i e t y. A s is t h s c a s e of S c h e d u l e C a s t e s, s o a l s o in the c a s e of B a c k w a r d C l a s s e s, t h e d e s i r e to g e t a d m i s s i o n in M e d i c a l C o l l e g e s has led to m a l p r a c t i c e s. T h e p a r e n t of a c a n d i d a t e w h o w a s a school t e a c h e r o p t e d for a n o t h e r p r o f e s s i o n s o a s to b r i n g his c a s e in t h e b a c k w a r d class. T h i s t y p e of t e m p o r a r y o c c u p a t i o n, c a n n o t be d e e m e d as the b a c k w a r d n e s s, o t h e r w i s e, the p e r s o n m a y

93 1 C -i 1 u I claim to be t r e a t e d as b a c k w a r d in one y e a r and forward in a n o t h e r as it s u i t s to hi* a d v a n t a g e 1^ 7. S i m i l a r l y if an i n d ividual has a cquired h i g h e r a c a d e m i c q u a l i f i c a t i o n e.,g. M B B 8 d e g r e e, d he cannot be d e e m e d to be backward, s i m p l y b e c a u s e he b e l o n g s to p a r t i c u l a r g r o u p for the p u r p o s e s of a d m i s s i o n to h i g h e r degree, say, M.D. B e s i d e s o n c e the c l a i m to the b a c k w a r d c l a s s s t a t u e is a c c e p t e d by a S e l e c t i o n C o m m i t t e e, it c a n n o t be turned d o w n 4 years a f t e r the a d m i s s i o n, in the a b s e n c e of any fraud. The S e l e c t i o n C o m m i t t e e has the p o w e r to v e r i f y the t r u t h of a c l a i m to b a c k w a r d c l a s s s tatus, but e r r o r s r e g a r d i n g the n a m e of the c a s t e s h o u l d not be the g r o u n d of r e j e c t i o n u n l e s s w i t h o u t an ioo o p p o r t u n i t y of b e i n g heard is g i v e n to t he persons-*"*". 1s7t1 Residence of the State T h e s t a t e B o v e r n m e n t s h a v e m a d e r e s e r v a t i o n s on t h e t e r r i t o rial b a s i s r e s e r v i n g s e a t s in e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s on the basis of r e s i d e n c e or d o m i c i l e in the State, r e s i d e n t s of c e r t a i n d i s t r i c t s o r a r e a s v i l l a g e s o r b a c k w a r d places, to r e c t i f y r e g i o n al b a l a n c e s, etc. T h e s e r e s e r v a t i o n s r e d u c e t h e n u m b e r of s e a t s kept for o p e n c o m p e t i t i o n and, thus s u c h c a n d i d a t e s b e l o n g i n g to open m e r i t c o m p e t i t i o n, e v e n t h o u g h h a v i n g h i g h e r p e r c e n t a g e of m a r k s a r e left o u t 130 T h e r u l e w h i c h p r e s c r i b e d m i n i m u m 10 y e a r s d o m i c i l e in a s t a t e as t h e t e s t for e l i g i b i l i t y for a d m i s s i o n to m e d i c a l c o l lege, w a s c o n s i d e r e d n e i t h e r a r b i t r a r y, n o r u n r e a s o n a b l e. It w a s p ointed o u t that t h e o b j e c t of the r u l e w a s to a t t e m p t to i m p a r t medical e d u c a t i o n to the b e s t t a l e n t a v a i l a b l e in the B t a t e and

94 ISS they can s e r v e as d o c t o r s in the p a r t i c u l a r s t a t e ThiB rule is also a p p l i c a b l e in the J a m m u and K a s h m i r S t a t e w h e r e first prefer ence in a d m i s s i o n to all c o u r s e s is given to the c a n d i d a t e s who belong to J&K and a r e the S t a t e S u bjects. h7:2 R e s i d e n t of L o c a l A ram T h e r e s e r v a t i o n is a l s o p r o v i d e d for the r e s i d e n t s of a p a r t i c u l a r local area i.e. h i l l y and b a c k w a r d areas. In Tmhsildar Hyderabad V T.V. Rmddy^"**' the P r e s i d e n t i a l O r d e r r e q u i r e d 4 c o n s e c u t i v e a c a d e m i c y e a r s r e s i d e n c e in a local area for e l i g i b i l i t y of a d m i s s i o n i n t o a M e d i c a l C o l l e g e in the S t a t e of A n d r a - P r a d e s h. In this c a s e r e s p o n d e n t s t u d i e d in H y d e r a b a d u p t o VII s t a n d a r d and due to T e l e n g a n a A g i t a t i o n he w e n t to B i c c a v o l e and c o m p l e t e d his 10th s t a n d a r d there. T h e r e a f t e r he c a m e back to H y d e r a b a d and did his 1st S c i e n c e course. W h e n he a p p l i e d for a d m i s s i o n to M edical c o u r s e in the O s m a n i a U n i v e r s i t y, his a p p l i c a t i o n w a s r e j e c t e d on the g r o u n d t h a t he did not f ulfill the p r e s c r i b e d r e s i d e n c e r e q u i r e m e n t s. B u t the A.P. H i g h Court, r e j e c t i n g the s a i d a r gument, o p i n e d that t h o u g h a c a n d i d a t e m a y be t e m p o r a r i l y s t a y i n g in a n o t h e r a r e a for the p u r p o s e of s t u d y o r t r a ining, w h i l e his parents, g u a r d i a n s and f a m i l y w e r e r e s i d e n t s of a local a r e a, w h e r e he had s e n s e of b e l o n g i n g and r e t u r n e d i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r the c o m p l e t i o n of study, this w a s s u f f i c i e n t plea of his residence. H e n c e he w a s g r a n t e d p e r m i s s i o n by the Court. In P.Rajmndran V Statm of Madras133 the a d m i B s i o n r u l e p r o vided for D i s t r i c t - w i s e d i s t r i b u t i o n of s e a t s in the M e d i c a l C o l l e g e w a s c h a l l e n g e d. T h e j u s t i f i c a t i o n g i v e n by the S t a t e w a s that t h e r e w e r e b e t t e r f a c i l i t i e s in the M a d r a s C i t y as a g a i n s t the o t h e r d i s t r i c t s of t h e state, and, if t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n w a s not

95 It is s u b m i t t e d that s o m a y a r d s t i c k s h o u l d be p r e s c r i b e d in such r e s e r v a t i o n so that o n l y the d e s e r v i n g c a n d i d a t e s r e s i d i n g in such a r e a s w o u l d be a b l e to g e t the benefit. In Niwhi Maghu V Stats of Jammu and Kamhmir^^^, the S t a t e of Jammu and K a s h m i r in o r d e r to r e c t i f y regional i m b a l a n c e s in tha a l l o c a t i o n of s e a t s in a d m i s s i o n to the Medical C o l l e g e s made r e s e r v a t i o n of 18'/. s e a t s w i t h o u t i d e n t i f y i n g the a r e a s s u f f e r i n g from s u c h i m b a l a n c e s. The S u p r e m e C o u r t d e c l a r e d s u c h i m b a l a n c e s as u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l u n d e r Art. 14. In r e s p o n s e to the a b o v e j u d g ment the g o v e r n m e n t i d e n t i f i e d s o m e v i l l a g e s as s o c i a l l y and e d u c a t i o n a l l y b a c k w a r d so as to r e c t i f y the e x i s t i n g r agional i m b a l a n c e in a d m i s s i o n s, but t h i s w a s a l s o u p s e t by the 3 u p r e m e C o u r t on the g r o u n d that c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of s o m e of the v i l l a g e s s u f f e r e d f r o m t h e v i c e of a r b i t r a r i n e s s w i t h n o i n t e l l i g i b l e d a t a issil Distance Education and New Social Order D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n is c o m p r e h e n s i v e m e t h o d of i m p a r t i n g e d u c a t i o n. It has a p o p u l a r and d e m o c r a t i c appeal to the m a s s e s of people m o s t of w h o m are u n a b l e to a t t e n d c l a s s on the C o l l e g e or U n i v e r s i t y C a m p u s. T h e large s e c t i o n s of Bociety remain beyond the a c c e s s to o u r e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s. It is for t h e m that the c o n c e p t d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n p r o v i d e s n e w a v e n u e s for g e t t i n g e d u c a tion. D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n h a s p r o v e d to be useful in o u r c o u n t r y in i m p a r t i n g e d u c a t i o n to th B n e g l e c t e d s e c t i o n s of t h e society. Ve t the r e l e v a n c e of D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n for h e l p i n g the b a c k w a r d c l a s s e s of t h e c o u n t r y pobes a s e r i o u s c h a l l e n g e to t h e system. The q u e s t i o n a r i s e s, is the c o n t e n t and m e t h o d of D i s t a n c e E d u c a -

96 1 9 u made d i s t r i c t wise, the c a n d i d a t e s of M a d r a s C i t y being in an a d v a n ta g e o u s p o s i t i o n M ould s e c u r e many more seats, than any o t h e r place in the State. S e c o n d l y, the c a n d i d a t e s c o m i n g from these d i s t r i c t s w o u l d s e t t l e d o w n in their home d i s t r i c t s and thus medical h e l p will be a v a i l a b l e in s u f f i c i e n t m easure to all the D i s t ricts. T h e C o u r t r e j e c t e d b o t h the c o n t e n t i o n s and held that such a l l o c a t i o n r e s u l t e d in d i s c r i m i n a t i o n and there w a s no n e x u s between the t e r r i t o r i a l d i s t r i b u t i o n and o b j e c t to be a c hieved, namely, a d m i s s i o n of the best talent. 1i7i3 Residents of Rural. Hill flrtaai T h e r e s e r v a t i o n of s e a t s in Medical C o l l e g e s for c a n d i d a t e s b e l o n g i n g to h i l l y and b a c k w a r d a r e a s may be valid, but r e s e r v a tion for c a n d i d a t e s b e l o n g i n g to rural a r e a s w o u l d be void, and, is, n o t p e r m i s s i b l e u n d e r A r t. 15 of the c o n s t i t u t i o n In the State of UP V Pradmttp 7 «n d o n 135 S e a t s w e r e r e s e r v e d in the Medical C o l l e g e of t h e S t a t e for c a n d i d a t e s b e l o n g i n g to rural, hills and U t t r a - K h a u n d Areas. T h i s w a s c h a l l e n g e d as v i o l a t i v e of A r t i c l e s 14 and 15 of the C o n s t i t u t i o n. T h e 9 u p r e m e C o u r t p a r t l y a c c e p t e d the plea. T h e C o u r t u p h e l d the r e s e r v a t i o n in c a s e of H i l l s and Uttara Khand Area, on the g r o u n d that c i t i z e n s of these a r e a s are, i l l i t e r a t e, d i s o r d e r l y, w i t h small p r o p e r t y holdings, n e g l e c t e d o p p o r t u n i t y and living in u t t e r b a c k w a r d n e s s. F u r t h e r it w a s pointed o u t t h a t a c c e s s to t h e s e a r e a s w a s d i f f i c u l t if n o t i m p o s sible; r e f l e c t e d in t h e i r e d u c a t i o n a l b a c k w a r d n e s s as well. H e n c e any r e s e r v a t i o n for t h e s e a r e a s is f u l l y J u s t i f i a b l e. But the r e s e r v a t i o n for rural a r e a s is i n v a l i d and w a s s t r u c k down. T h i s kind of c l a s s i f i c a t i o n b a s e d on 'rural A r e a T e s t ' w a e held not p e r m i s s i b l e u n d e r A r t i c l e 15(4) and it a t t r a c t e d the e q u a l i t y clause.

97 is I tion c o m p a t i b l e w i t h n a t u r e and t e m p e r a m e n t and g i g a n t i c p r o b l e m s faced by S c h e d u l e Class, S c h e d u l e T r i b e s and b a c k w a r d c l a s s e s? and how the B a c k w a r d C l a s s e s are looking to the n e w social o r d e r and how they will be b e n e f i t e d by the n e w p r o g r a m m e s of d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n 1 3 Ih B a c k w a r d C 1a s s e s w h o a r e s u p p o s e d to be target g r o u p s of D i s t a n c e learning, a r e a large and mixed c a t e g o r y, of p e r s o n s w i t h b o u n d a r i e s t h a t are both 'unclear, u n r e a l i s t i c and e l astic'. T o g e t h e r they c o m p r i s e 1/3 of the total p o p u l a t i o n of the country. They a r e m a d e u p of t h r e e m a i n p r i n c i p l e c o m p o n e n t s, i.e., the S c h e d u l e d C a s t e s, the S c h e d u l e d T r i b e s and O t h e r B a c k w a r d C lasses. The S c h e d u l e d C a s t e s and S c h e d u l e d Tribes, are well d e f i n e d c a t e g o r i e s c o m p r i s i n g 7 /. and 15% of p o p u l a t i o n r e s p e c t i v e l y. T h e O t h e r B a c k w a r d C l a s s e s or O B C s a r e a residual c a t e g o r y, their position is h i g h l y a m b i g u o u s, and is i m p o s s i b l e to g i v e an e x a c t p e r c e n t a g e of their p o p u l a t i o n. T h e S c h e d u l e d Tribes, a r e t o t a l l y i s o lated, they have been living in the f o r e s t s and hills. T h e i r h a b i t a t i o n a r e a s are found in p ockets. T h e f r o n t i e r t r i b e s s u c h as t h o s e r e s i d i n g in M i zoram, N agaland, A r u n a c h a l and p a r t s of A s s a m h a v e p r o b l e m s w h i c h a r e largely p o l i t i c a l and e c o n o m i c. T h e i r g r o u p s h a v e the p r o b l e m of illiteracy, i g n o r a n c e, b a c k w a r d n e s s and e x t r e m e p overty. T h e i r e x p l o i t a t i o n is c o l o s s a l. D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n for t h e m s h o u l d m e a n lighten to e n l i g h t e n, r e d r e s s f r o m i s o l a t i o n, and, l i t e r a c y from i g n o r a n c e and want. T h e y n e e d to b e f u n c t i o n a l l y e d u c a t e d, s o as to, e r a d i c a t e m a s s i l l i t e r a c y p o o r h o l d i n g, i g n o r a n c e, and want, that can be f a i r l y a c h i e v e d t h r o u g h D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n only. The S c h e d u l e d C a s t e s a r e o t h e r c o n s t i t u e n t s of b a c k w a r d c l a s s e s. T h e p r o p o r t i o n of s c h e d u l e d c a s t e s to the total p o p u l a t i o n of India,

98 a c cording to 1981 c ensus, is 15.75'/.. The P u n j a b o c c u p i e s the first place h a v i n g 26.85'/. of S c h e d u l e d C a s t e s to the total p o p u l a tion in 1981 f o l l o w e d by Himachal P r a d e s h i.e '/.. T h e o t h e r b a c k w a r d c l a s s e s O B C s are a residual c a t e g o r i e s w h i c h is B pread o v e r all length and b r e a d th of India. Their p o s i tion is h i g h l y a m b i g u o u s. T h e s e c l a s s e s have h i s t o r i c a l l y s u f f e r e d for c e n t u r i e s f r o m the o p p r e s s i o n and the h i g h - h a n d e d n e s s of high caste H indus. T h e i r q u a l i t y of life is very poor. Keeping in view their o v e r a l l b a ck w a rd n e ss the C o n s t i t u t i o n of India has p r o v i d e d some s e c u r i t i e s and s a f e g u a r d s to these g roups. T h e s e s a f e g u a r d s are b e l i e v e d to e n a b l e them to c o m e at par w i t h o t h e r non-tribal g r o u p s of the c o u n t r y and to play a fruitful role in the o verall d e v e l o p m e n t. In J a m m u and K a s h m i r S t a t e the n u m b e r of the S c h e d u l e C a s t e and S c h e d u l e T r i b e s is less, but the S t a t e has fairly large n u m b e r of p e o p l e as b a c k w a r d c l a s s e s. In H i l l y a r e a s of J a m m u and Kashmir the G u j j a r and B a k a r w a l l s are a b a c k w a r d c o m m u n i t y and still s u f f e r from i g n o r a n c e, i l l i t e r a c y, s u p e r s t i t i o n, and pover ty. In the Kargil and L a d a k h region a l m o s t the e n t i r e p o p u l a t i o n is backward, poor and i l l i t e r a t e s. T h e v i l l a g e life is s i m p l e but hard and p e o p l e live in u t t e r p o verty. M o s t of the v i l l a g e s in Kargil and L e h r e g i o n s a r e far away from m o d e r n i t y and still live w i t h t h e i r a g e old o b s o l e t e t r a d i t i o n s and c ustoms. S i n c e E d u c a t i o n is the o n l y i n s t r u m e n t to bring a social c hange, the o n l y o p t i o n left, t h e r e f o r e is to e d u c a t e t h o s e b a c k ward s e c t i o n s of s o c i e t y. D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n o f f e r s a r e m e d y to the b a c k w a r d c l a s s e s w i t h t h e i r a t t r i b u t e and t r a i t s w h i c h a r e historical to them. H o w e v e r, i n t r o d u c t i o n of D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n for b a c k w a r d c l a s s e s r e g i o n s of o u r c o u n t r y pre s u p p o s e s the e x i s t e n c e of s o m e f u n c t i o n a l r e q u i s i t e, for e x a m p l e, if the e d u c a

99 tion is to be g i v e n t h r o u g h M a s s Media, it a s s u m e s that c o n s u m e r p o s s e s s e s Radio, T e l e v i s i o n, Audio, V i d e o Recorders, N e w s P a p e r s and o t h e r t e c h n i q u e s and tools w h i c h are used for i m p a r t i n g k n o w l edge. T h e p o s s e s s i o n of all these a r t i c l e s c o s t the c o n sumer. B e s i d e s it r e q u i r e s the r e g u l a r e l e c t r i c s u p p l y and the s e r v i c e s of m e c h a n i c s for r epairs. T h e D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n, p r e - s u p p o s e s good or s a t i s f a c t o r y P o s t a l - s e r v i c e, p l a c e w h e r e o c c a s i o n a l c o n tact p r o g r a m m e s a r e to be c o n d u c t e d, travel e x p e n s e s and o t h e r i m p o r t a n t f a c i l i t i e s w h i c h are e s s e n t i a l for the m a i n t a i n i n g the d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n programmes. In the S t a t e of R a j a s t h a n, the S c h e d u l e T r i b e s c o n s t i t u t e 12.21% of the total p o p u l a t i o n. It is t o t a l l y i m p o s s i b l e to e l e c trify the tribal p o p u l a t i o n of thb State, for the h a b i t a t i o n pattern of t h e s e v i l l a g e s is s c a t t e r e d. B esides, the T.V. and R a d i o B e t s i n v o l v e s e x p e n d i t u r e w h i c h is beyond t h e nrnager b u d g e t of the p o o r t ribal. T h e tribal may buy a t r a n s i s t o r s e t then the poor q u a l i t y TV P o s t o f f i c e yet a n o t h e r i m p o r t a n t m e d i u m of c o m m u n i c a t i o n s a r e few. S a m e is true of the L a d a k h region. T h e d i s t r i c t c a p i t a l s of L e h and Kargil have s o m e f a c i l i t y of e l e c t r i c i t y d u r i n g d a y time. But the v i l l a g e s in Kargil and in L e h are s c a t t e r e d on the m o u n t a i n r a n g e s and e l e c t r i f y i n g the v i l l a g e s is a d i s t a n t r e a l i t y. E v e n t h e postal s e r v i c e is n o t u p t o the mark. T h e r e f o r e, it is e a s y to c o n c e i v e a d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m m e s for t h e s e w e a k e r s e c t i o n s of society, it r e q u i r e s a large s c a l e e x e r c i s e to find o u t w h e t h e r the w e a k e r s e c t i o n s of s o c i e t y h a v e e n o u g h i n f r a - s t r u c t u r a l f a c i l i t i e s for c o n s u m i n g the D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m m e s. T h e s t a t u s of S c h e d u l e C a s t e s c o n t i n u e s to be m o r e less s a m e a s it w a s in the past. T h e y r e m a i n a m a r g i n a l g r o u p in a the

100 194 v i l l a g e or a locality. T h e small n e c e s s i t i e s of life i.e. d r i n k i n g water, e l e c t r i c i t y etc is t o t a l l y d e n i e d to them. T h e i r c h i l d r e n are n o t a l l o w e d i n t o school. They a r e d e n i e d e n t r y in the t e m ples. O n e w o n d e r s as to how, d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n can prove to be h a r b i n g e r of c h a n g e in s u c h a situation. T h e r e f o r e it is clear that w e a k e r s e c t i o n s of the s o c i e t y have no or limited i n f r a s t r u c tural f a c i l i t y for a v a i l i n g t h e m s e l v e s for the b e n e f i t of the d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n. B o if the w e a k e r s e c t i o n s are to be u p l i f t e d e d u c a t i o n a l l y and d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n has to play any m e a n i n g f u l role, then u n f r a - s t r u c t u r e is first to be p r ovided, o t h e r w i s e, the d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n P r o g r a m m e s shall be c o n s u m e d by e l i t e and highc a s t e s e c t i o n s of t h e s o c i e t y and it w o u l d n o t b e n e f i t those who need them m o s t

101 D-Enin«tinn. Certification tt Judicial Control The U n i v e r s i t i e s, B o a r d s end o t h e r s t a t u t o r y b o d i e s are given the p o w e r to hold e x a m i n a t i o n s and to award c e r t i f i c a t e s under e n a c t m e n t m a d e by a p p r o p r i a t e L e g i s l a t u r e s. T o take some in s t a n c e s at random, S e c t i o n 21(2) of the W e s t - B e n g a l C ouncil of H i g h e r S e c o n d a r y E d u c a t i o n Act, 1975 providesi " S u b j e c t to any general or s pecial o r d e r of the S t a t e G o v e r n m e n t the p r o v i s o n of t h i s Act and any rule m a d e t h e r eunder, the C ouncil h a v e g e n e r a l l y the p o w e r to direct, s u p e r v i s e and c ontrol H i g h e r S e c o n d a r y E x a m i n a t i o n and in p a r t i c u l a r the power, to i n s t i t u t e H i g h e r S e c o n d a r y E x a m i n a t i o n for p u r p o s e s of this Act". S e c t i o n - 4 ( A ) of the B a n a r a s H i n d u U n i v e r s i t y Act, 1919 as a m e n d e d by P a r l i a m e n t in p r o v i d e s as follows! (3) to h o l d e x a m i n a t i o n and to g r a n t d i p l o m a s and c e r t i f i cates, and to c o n f e r d e g r e e s and o t h e r a c a d e m i c d i s t i n c t i o n s to and on p e r s o n s s - W h o shall h a v e p a s s e d a c o u r s e of s t u d y in the U n i v e r s i t y or in the c o l l e g e and p a s s e d the e x a m i n a t i o n or w h o shall have c a r r i e d o u t R e s e a r c h work in t h e m a n n e r p r e s c r i b e d by the O r d i n a n c e s." S t a t u t e I of C h a p t e r XI of t h e K a s h m i r & J a m m u U n i v e r s i t y A c t p r o v i d e s the " f o l l o w i n g E x a m i n a t i o n shall b e c o n d u c t e d by the U n i v e r s i t y e v e r y year."

102 196 S e c t i o n 5(2) of the Act c o n f e r s power on the U n i v e r a i t y of Kashmiri "to hold e x a m i n a t i o n, to g r a n t d e g r e e s and to c o n f e r o t h e r a c a d e m i c d i s t i n c t i o n s on the persons whos - (a) h a v e p u r s u e d an a p p r o v e d c o u r s e of s t u d y in the U n i v e r s i t y or in any e d u c a t i o n i n s t i t u t i o n approved for the p u r p o s e, u n l e s s e x e m p t e d t h e r e f r o m ae a very s p e c i a l c a s e, by the d e c i s i o n of the U n i v e r s i t y C o u n c i l on the r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s of A c a d e m i c Council u n d e r c o n d i t i o n s laid d o w n in S t a t u t e s and R e g u l a tions". The S t a t u t e s I to 125 C h a p XI of t h e K a s h m i r ft J a m m u U n i v e r s i t i e s Act, 1969 deal in d e t a i l w i t h the p o w e r s c o n f e r r e d on the U n i v e r s ity to c o n d u c t e x a m i n a t i o n, e l i g i b i l i t y for e x a m i n a t i o n, c o nduct, m a l p r a c t i c e in e x a m i n a t i o n, p u n i s h m e n t s etc. T h e g e n e r a l trend is t o w a r d s c o n f e r r i n g p o w e r s on the U n i v e r s i t i e s in w i d e r and g e n e r a l t e r m s for the c o n d u c t of e x a m i n a tion and c e r t i f i c a t i o n. T h u s t h e U n i v e r s i t i e s h a v e been s e t u p for t e a c h i n g and c o n d u c t i n g of e x a m i n a t i o n s. T h e I n s t i t u t i o n s a r e a big social t r u B t T h o u s a n d s of s t u d e n t s s i t and a p p e a r in d i f f e r e n t e x a m i n a t i o n s a n d a c c e p t the a d j u d i c a t o r y a s s e s s m e n t m a d e of their p e r f o r m a n c e s by it. T h e s y s t e m of e x a m i n a t i o n is i n t e n d e d to be f o o l - p r o o f. T h e a s s e s s m e n t m a d e by the U n i v e r s i t y t h e r e f o r e lies on the b a s i s that it is a b s o l u t e l y j u s t and c o r r e c t. In o r d e r that this a s s e s s m e n t s m a d e by t h e U n i v e r s i t y h a v e u n i v e r s a l a c c e p t a n c e

103 137 it i» n e c e s t a r y that c h a r a c t e r and p r o c e s s of the e x a m i n a t i o n s ystem s h o u l d n o t be d o u b t e d It is for e s t a b l i s h i n g this c r e d ibility that g e n e r a l trend is t o w a r d s c o n f e r r i n g p o w e r s on the u n i v e r s i t i e s in w i d e r and g e n e r a l teruib of the c o n d u c t of e x a m i n a tion. T h e r e h a s been g r a d u a l i n c r e a s e in the i n t e r f e r e n c e by the J u d i c i a r y in t h i s a r e a b e c a u s e of high c a r e e r s t a k e s of the c a n d i d a t e s on the o n e hand and the s o c i a l - t r u s t of the u n i v e r s i t i e s on the other. T h B legal a s p e c t s w h i c h w e r e c o n f r o n t e d by the Univei s i t i e s in E x a m i n a t i o n area, can be c a t e g o r i s e d into t h r e e broad c a t e g o r i e s, n a m e l y, e l i g i b i l i t y, c o n d u c t of e x a m i n a t i o n and award of Marks. L e t u s e x a m i n e t h e s e a r e a s in d e t a i l i - I 1:1 ELI6 IBILITY FOR EXAMINATION W h e n a s t u d e n t f a i l s to f ulfill the r e q u i r e m e n t s of the a t t e n d a n c e t h e e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s h a v e the r i g h t to a l l o w h i m to a p p e a r in t h e e x a m i n a t i o n. In few cases, t h e q u e s t i o n has a r i s e n w h e t h e r the s t u d e n t has to fu l f i l l the a t t e n d a n c e r e q u i r e m e n t s s e p a r a t e l y in e a c h of the m e d i u m s of i n s t r u c t i o n s, s u c h as, l e c tures, s e m i n a r s, t u t o r i a l s and p r a c t i c a l or it is e n o u g h if he s a t i s f i e d t h e o v e r all a t t e n d a n c e r e q u i r e m e n t s, that is a f t e r c o m b i n i n g all t h B s e m e d i u m s of i n s t r u c t i o n s. If a s t a t u t o r y p r o v i sion is c l e a r an d s t a t e s t h a t s t u d e n t has t o s a t i s f y the a t t e n d a n c e r e q u i r e m e n t s e p a r a t e l y in t h e l e ctures, t u t o r i a l s, p r a c t i c a l

104 etc, then t h e r e is no d i f f i c u l t y in d e t e r m i n i n g the s h o r t a g e of 1 4? a t t e n d a n c e 4-^. A s t u d e n t d e t a i n e d in e x a m i n a t i o n may d i s p u t e the c o r r e c t ness of the r e c o r d of his a t t e n d a n c e or the c o u n t i n g of a t t e n d a n c e or may c l a i m the b e n e f i t of some e x e m p t i o n c l a u s e i.e. illness. T h e r e f o r e s u c h a s t u d e n t m a y like a hearing to be g i v e n to him by the c o l l e g e b e f o r e any a c t i o n is taken a g a i n s t him. The E d u c a t i o n A u t h o r i t i e s a r e to c o m p l y to the r e quest. In Kumkum V Principal J e s u s and Mary C o J l * g « T h e P r i n c i p a l of the c o l l e g e w a s e m p o w ered to g r a n t c o n c e s s i o n in a t t e n d a n c e if the s t u d e n t had fallen s e r i o u s l y ill or m B t w i t h an a c c i d e n t d u r i n g the y * a r d i s a b l i n g him f r o m a t t e n d i n g t h e c l a s s e s for s o m e p e r i o d T h e P r i n c i p a l had m a d e it a r i g i d r u l e that e v e r y leave a p p l i c a t i o n s h o u l d be a c c o m p a n i e d by a M e d i c a l C e r t i f i c a t e, and late p r o d u c t i o n of c e r t i f i c a t e will n o t i n s p i r e c o n f i d e n c e. The P r i n c i p a l a c c o r d i n g ly did n o t a c c e p t the late M e d i c a l C e r t i f i c a t e w h o w e r e being detained. It w a s held by the C o u r t i - "The P r i n c i p a l w a s to o b s e r v e r u l e s of natural j u s t i c e in d e c i d i n g the q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r the c o n c e s s i o n on a c c o u n t of i l l n e s s w a s to be g i v e n to t h e s t u d e n t or not. T h e P r i n c i p a l s a c t i o n w a s q u a s h e d on t h e b a s i s of rigid policy, p a r t i c u l a r l y w h e n the U n i v e r s i t y O r d i n a n c e did not c o n t a i n any s u c h s t r i c t r e q u i r e m e n t." T h e r u l e s of N a t u r a l J u s t i c e are, h o w e v e r n o t rigid or formal. T h e C o u r t s a l l o w a g r e a t deal of f l e x i b i l i t y in t h e m a t t e r of o b s e r v a n c e of t h e n a t u r a l j u s t i c e by t h e a u t h o r i t i e s. In Axra Smmma V J.P.8. Obwroi145 a s t u d e n t w a s d e b a r r e d f r o m a p p e a r i n g at

105 the e x a m i n a t i o n b e c a u s e of s h o r t a g e of attendance. The exact shortage w a s n o t d i s c l o s e d to him lest he might submit a t a i l o r e d M e d ic a l C e r t i f i c a t e. T h e e x a c t s h o r ta g e w a s m a d e known to him, after he p ro d u c e d the c e r t i f i c a t e. On the following facts it was h e ld that P r i n c i p l e s of n atural j u s t i c e w e r e s a t i s f i e d. T h e p e t i t i o n e r had m a d e a r e p r e s e n t a t i o n i n v o l v i n g illhealth as his r e a s o n for his a b s e n c e from a t t e n d i n g c lasses, and, his r e p r e s e n t a t i o n w a s d u l y c o n s i d e r e d by a u t h o r i t i e s and even by the V i c e - C h a n c e l l o r. T h e C o u r t did not find any thing w r o n g w i t h this, as it w a s n o t e s s e n t i a l that p e rsonal hearing be given at all stages, and levels, at w h i c h the m a t t e r was c o n s i d e r e d. As r e gards, the a u t h o r i t i e s did n o t d i s c l o s e p r e c i s e s h o r t a g e of a t t e n dance. T h e C o u r t held that e v e n that did not v i t i a t e the p r o c e e d ings as the s t u d e n t w a s s u p p o s e d to know the e x a c t n u m b e r of s h o rtages, f u r t h e r he w a s d u l y c o m m u n i c a t e d the e x a c t n u m b e r of s h o rtages, a f t e r he s u b m i t t e d his Medical C e r t i f i c a t e. The action of a u t h o r i t i e s in d e b a r r i n g the s t u d e n t from a p p e a r i n g in the e x a m i n a t i o n w a s held valid. H o w e v e r, a s t u d e n t c a n n o t be told at the last m o m e n t of the e x a m i n a t i o n hall, that he is s h o r t of a t t e n d a n c e, and s t o p p e d from c o n t i n u i n g w i t h t h e e x a m i n a t i o n. H e m u s t be i n f o r m e d well in advance, so that he can c o n s i d e r the position, and, m a k e r e p r e s e n tation In the m a t t e r s of c a r e e r of the s t u d e n t s i n action, i n d i f f e r e n c e or lack of e a r n e s t n e s s on the part of the o p p o s i t e parties w o u l d n o t be t o l e r a t e d by law T h u s s h o r t a g e of a t t e n da n c e of s t u d e n t s h o u l d be i n t i m a t e d to the s t u d e n t b e f o r e d i s q u a l i f y i n g h i m 1 4.

106 2 lit) 11 2 Shortage of attendance - before Examinationt In Gitali Das V Damn MGM, Medical College, Indore3 ^^. The p e t i t i o n e r w h o was a s t u d e n t of M3 (Gynecology & 0b3) was allowed to a p p e a r in the e x a m i n a t i o n owing to s h o r t a g e of a t t e n dance. She r e p r e s e n t e d to the Dean, that due to illness, she was absent for t h r e e months, and she had c o m p e n s a t e d this a b s e n c e by not taking w e e k - o f f, n o t a v a i l i n g holidays, working d u r i n g strike, etc. The p r o f e s s o r f o r w a r d e d her r e p r e s e n t a t i o n to the Dean, not that she has m a d e u p her a t t e n d a n c e. S i n c e there w a s n o r e s p o n s e from the Dean, the p e t i t i o n e r m a d e again r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s u b m i t t i n g copies of H e a l t h M i n i s t e r and D i r e c t o r of Medical Education. The D i r e c t o r f o r w a r d e d it to the Dean, w i t h the e n d o r s e m e n t that p e t i tioner has a p l a u s i b l e case. T h e C o l l e g e and Hospital A d v i s o r y Council, the body n o t c o n s t i t u t e d u n d e r any rules c o n s i d e r e d her 1enO ca s e and d e c i d e d by r e f e r e n c e to o r d i n a n c e -6 that» h e was short of a t t e n d a n c e. The C o u r t found that there w a s no rule p r e sc r i b i n g a n y m i n i m u m a t t e n d a n c e, no record of a t t e n d a n c e was made. Court held that d e t a i n i n g p e t i t i o n e r from e x a m i n a t i o n was u n r e a sonable and void. A f r i v o l o u s c l a i m by the g r o u p of s t u d e n t s that they w e r e e n t i t l e d to c o n d o n a t i o n of s h o r t a g e of a t t e n d a n c e w a s r e j e c t e d by A l l a h a b a d H i g h C o u r t. Y.K.Bammi V Jauaharlal Nehru University152 is an i n t e r e s t i n g c a s e of a t t e n d a n c e r e q u i r e m e n t. T h e p e t i t i o n e r a s t u d e n t of 10th 9 e m e B t e r M.A. w h o w a s s e l e c t e d for s c h o l a r s h i p of M.Phil in o n e of the J a p a n e s e U n i v e r s i t i e s w a s r e q u i r e d to join on W h e r e c l a s s e s of 1 0 t h s e m e s t e r w o u l d e n d by In v i e w of s u c h a s i t u a t i o n 5 P r o f e s s o r of the School of L a n g u a g e s of the U n i v e r s i

107 ty, d e c i d e d to p r e - p o n e the e x a m i n a t i o n of 10th s e m e s t e r on or after S e c t i o n 6.2 of the o r d i n a n c e r e quired 90 day* i n s t r u c t i o n s in a s e m e s t e r and p e t i t i o n e r w a s s h o r t of 30 days attendance. T h e q u e s t i o n in this c a s e was w h e t h e r B u c h e x e m p t i o n was valid. T h e U n i v e r s i t y did not treat it as valid and F a c u l t y P r o f e s s o r had n o power to p r e - p o n e the e x a m i n a t i o n. The m a t t e r was referred to A c a d e m i c Council. T h e V i c e - c h a n c e l l o r, as the C h a i r m a n of the c o u n c i l s h o w e d his, " d i s p l e a s u r e and u n h a p p i n e s s over the lapse of s o m e of the F a c u l t y m e m b e r s " and A c a d e m i c Council r e s o l v e d that s h e was not e l i g i b l e to g e t any r e l a x a t i o n. Th e Delhi H i g h Court, however, a l l o w e d the r e l a x a t i o n. The C o u r t s h o w e d g r e a t c o n c e r n for the i n f i g h t i n g between the a c a d e m ics and a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of the U n i v e r s i t y, r e s u l t i n g in i n j u s t i c e to the m e r i t o r i o u s. The J u d g e o b s e r v e d " T h e r e is n o reason w h y the b e t t e r p e r f o r m e r s or the h i g h e r a c h i e v e r s be held back to the self i m p o s e d c o n t r o l s w h i c h have the e f f e c t of l imiting the a b i l i t i e s of a c h i e v e m e n t s of m o r e g i f t e d the h i g h e r a c h i e v i n g s t u d e n t s. " The C o u r t w a r n e d the U n i v e r s i t y that if r i g i d i t y w a s a d h e r e d "Then it w o u l d m e a n that U n i v e r s i t y w o u l d not be w e l c o m i n g w i t h i n its fold any s t u d e n t w h o is h i g h e r

108 a c h i e v e r, better performer. It is p o s s i b l e that rare s t u d e n t can a c h i e v e b e t t e r s t a n d a r d... in our v i e w it c o u l d be a w a s t e of human r e s o u r c e li3 Admission cardst Provisional S o m e t i m e s a d m i s s i o n c a r d s to e x a m i n a t i o n a r e issued p r o v i sionally. T h e m e have raised legal p r o b l e m in c a s e s where, u l t imately on the b a s i s of the s h o r t a g e of a t t e n d a n c e, the U n i v e r s i ty a u t h o r i t i e s c a n c e l l e d the a d m i s s i o n to the e x a m i n a t i o n. In Hmbibullah V w h e r e the result of the c a n d i d a t e was w i t h held b e c a u s e he did not c o m p l e t e the a t t e n d a n c e r e q u i r e m e n t s within the a c a d e m i c year. H o w e v e r, the C o l l e g e w h e r e he w a s s t u d y ing a r r a n g e d special c l a s s e s a f t e r he had taken the e x a m i n a t i o n and c o m p l e t i o n of the a c a d e m i c year, to e n a b l e him to m a k e good the a t t e n d a n c e. It w a s held that c a n d i d a t e has s a t i s f i e d the a t t e n d a n c e r e t i r e m e n t. T h u s when the s t u d e n t has been issued the a d m i s s i o n card p r o v i s i o n a l l y and he took the e x a m i n a t i o n, but later on it was d i s c o v e r e d that he w a s n o t q u a l i f i e d to be s e n t for e x a m i n a t i o n, it has been held that h i s r e s u l t c a n n o t be w i t h - h e l d as the U n i v e r s i t y was p r e v e n t e d from d o i n g so on the g r o u n d s of e s t o p p e d F r o m the a f o r e s a i d c o n t r o v e r s y two p r o p o s i t i o n s can be m a d e o ut namelyi (a) It is p r e f e r a b l e to g i v e the c o n c e r n e d a u t h o r i ty, in e x p r e s s terms, the p o w e r to issue a 'provisional' a d m i s s i o n card. T h e r e a s o n is that if the

109 p r o v i s i o n a l card is issued and the e x a m i n a t i o n taken it c a n n o t be c a n c e l l e d in the a b s e n c e of any e x p r e s s p o w e r ; (b) it is a l s o p r e f e r a b l e to see that if the a d m i s si o n is f i n a l l y c a n c e l l e d the c a n c e l l a t i o n m u s t be in s t r i c t c o n f o r m i t y w i t h the r u l e s in all r e s p e c t s " An A d m i s s i o n C a r d w h i c h is issued u n - c o n d i t i o n a l l y s t a n d s on an e v e r s t r o n g e r f o o t i n g in favour of the s t u d e n t than a 'Provisional Card.' O n c e an u n c o n d i t i o n a l a d m i s s i o n card is issued for an e x a m i n a t i o n, the U n i v e r s i t y c a n n o t cancel it on the g r o u n d that s t u d e n t w a s n o t q u a l i f i e d. The P r i n c i p l e of E s t o p p e l then c o m e s i n t o o p e r a t i o n. In any case, w h e r e a B t u d e n t has taken an e x a m i n a t i o n and the U n i v e r s i t y s u b s e q u e n t l y w a n t s to w i t h h o l d r e s u l t s of the s t u d e n t s on the a c c o u n t of a l l e g e d s h o r t a g e of a t t e n d a n c e, it will be w r o n g to w i t h - h o l d the r e s u l t s w i t h o u t 157 giving a h e a r i n g to the s t u d e n t ^ 1". the

110 204 ii CONDUCT OF EXAMINATION In the e x a m i n a t i o n s t u d e n t s are r e q u i r e d to a n s w e r the q u e s t i o n s g i v e n in the q u e s t i o n paper w i t h i n the p r e s c r i b e d time limit. T h e Indian e x a m i n a t i o n s y s t e m is more or less based on the memory test. T h i s has r e s u l t e d in a d o p t i o n of u n f a i r n e s s in the examination. In s u c h c a s e U n i v e r s i t i e s e i t h e r cancel the result of the e x a m i n a t i o n or B u s p e n d or r u s t i c a t e the s t u d e n t s i n v o l v e d in the use of u n f a i r means. T h i s has r e s u l t e d into litigation between s t u d e n t s and U n i v e r s i t i e s. 1:2:1 Unfair means in Examination Hall A c a n d i d a t e c o m m i t s m i s - c o n d u c t in the e x a m i n a t i o n, if he p o s s e s s in the e x a m i n a t i o n hall any paper, n o t e book or m a terial c o n n e c t e d w i t h the s u b j e c t of the e x a m i n a t i o n in w h i c h he is 1 a p p e a r i n g. 1)P o s s e s s i o n in the h a n d s : At t h e time of e x a m i n a t i o n the p e t i t i o n e r w a s found to h a v e in p o s s e s s i o n a c h i t of p a p e r w h i c h w a s d e t e c t e d by the i n v i g i l a t o r. The i n v i g i l a t o r a s k e d the p e t i t i o n e r to g i v e the s t a t e m e n t w h i c h he refused. He w a s d i s q u a l i f i e d for two y e a r s. 159 S i m i l a r l y w h e r e a p e t i t i o n e r w a s in possession of c h i t w h i l e he w a s a p p e a r i n g in the e x a m i n a t i o n, and he said that c h i t w a s w r i t t e n by the i n v i g i l a t o r. The p e t i t i o n e r was d i s q u a l i f i e d for o n e y e a r W h i l e the p e t i t i o n e r w a s a p pearing in t h e M.A. H i s t o r y e x a m i n a t i o n, a c l e r k of a c o l l e g e s u s p e c t e d that p e t i t i o n e r has in his h a n d k e r c h i e f a c h i t of paper, he r e p o r t e d t h e m a t t e r to the S u p e r i n t e n d e n t. T h e p e t i t i o n e r to

111 205 e x c e p t i o n at the leveling of false c h a r g e a g a i n s t him w h e n the C entre S u p e r i n t e n d e n t w e n t to s e a r c h his h a n d k e r c h i e f. The p e t i tioner was d i s q u a l i f i e d for two y e a r * When the p e t i t i o n e r was appearing at the e x a m i n a t i o n, thb i n v i g i l a t o r found a d i a r y in his front pocket. T h e p e t i t i o n e r a d m i t t e d the p o s s e s s i o n of diary, but denied to have used it in the e x a m i n a t i o n. His e x a m i n a t i o n was <in cancelled. S i m i l a r l y i n v i g i l a t o r n o t i c e d that the e x a m i n e e w a s very often p u t t i n g his hand into his pocket and found in hi* pocket four B l i p s r e l e v a n t to e x a m i n a t i o n. T h e p e t i t i o n e r w a s d i s q u a l i f i e d for two y e a r s The m a l p r a c t i c e in the e x a m i n a t i o n hall can take any of the forms viz p a p e r seized from the person of the student, paper or chit lying on t h e floor or b e l o w the d e * k, p o s s e s s i o n of the paper in urinal etc. In all t h e s e c a s e s the U n i v e r s i t y a u t h o r i t i e s w h o are e n t r u s t e d w i t h the task of e x a m i n a t i o n a r e v e s t e d w i t h w i d e d i s c r e t i o n a r y p owers. But this d i s c r e t i o n v e s t e d in them should always be e x e r c i s e d w i t h c a r e and c i r c u m s p e c t i o n, as an a b u s e of that power is likely to d e p r i v e the s t u d e n t s of p r e c i o u s o p p o r t u n ity in life, the R a j a s t h a n H i g h C o u r t in the Anita Mittal V Sukhadia Univmrmity164 a F L Y I N B - S Q U A D i n s p e c t i n g t h e c o n d u c t of e x a m i n a t i o n found s o m e thing w r i t t e n on the p a l m of the p e t i t i o n e r, a c a n d i d a t e for a p r e - m e d i c a l test. S h e tried to p e r s u a d e the C e n t r e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t and o t h e r M e m b e r s of the F l y i n g Squad, that w h a t e v er w a s w r i t t e n on her p a l m w a s n o t visible, n o r it can be u s e d for s a l v i n g the paper. 8 h e h o w e v e r w a s n o t a l l o w e d to w r i t e the e x a m i nation. T h i s w a s d o n e on the b a s i s of the r e p o r t of the C entral S u p e r i n t e n d e n t in e x e r c i s e of the p o w e r s v e s t e d in him u n d e r C l a u s e 19 of t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s w h i c h read asi

112 " C a n d i d a t e s r e s o r t i n g to u n f a i r m e a n s shall be turned out of the e x a m i n a t i o n h a l l / r o o m and the e x a m i n a t i o n shall be treated i b c a n c e l l e d as a whole. T h e C e n t r e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t shall be the sole J u d g e to d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r u n f a i r m e a n s has been r e s o r t e d to." The C o u r t o b s e r v e d, " that C e n t r e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t o n l y r e c o r d ed that m a t e r i a l found w a s o b j e c t i o n a b l e w i t h o u t e l a b o r a t i n g whether they c o u l d have any r e l e v a n c e to the s u b j e c t or not. The Co u r t t h e r e f o r e c o n c l u d e d that C e n t r e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t has not ap p l i e d his mind p r o perly. The a c t i o n was found to be a r b i t r a r y and o r d e r w a s q u a s h e d. S i m i l a r l y in all the m a l p r a c t i c e c a s e s the r e a s o n a b l e oppor tunity to the d e l i n q u e n t s t u d e n t is to be p r o v i d e d. 1* 5 In a leading c a s e of Mohd Yaqoob Anmari V Devi Shitya V Vidyalaya167 the p e t i t i o n e r a B.A. e x m a i n e e w a s seen i n s e r t i n g a c h i t in hib garment. H e w a s taken to control room and chit w a s recovered. u n d e r he s n a t c h e d the c h i t and ran away. The m a t e r w a s r e p o r t e d to the U n i v e r s i t y and s h o w c a u s e n o t i c e w a s issued. The p e t i t i o n e r d e n i e d the a l l e g a t i o n. T h e C o m m i t t e e passed an o r d e r d e b a r r i n g the p e t i tioner for a p p e a r i n g in any e x a m i n a t i o n of the U n i v e r s i t y for year. C o u r t r e j e c t e d the c o n t e n t i o n that a u t h o r i t i e s h a v e acted in v i o l a t i o n of the r u l e s of natural j u s t i c e and w i t h o u t e v i d e n c e. 1* 8. T h e p u n i s h m e n t i m p o s e d s h o u l d n o t be s e v e r e than the p u n i s h m e n t p r e s c r i b e d. W h e r e a s t u d e n t w a s d e b a r r e d from a p p e a r i n g in any e x a m i n a t i o n for two y e a r s for p o s s e s s i o n of a m a t e r i a l, piece of p a p e r n o t r e l e v a n t to the subject, the C o u r t s t r u c k But one down the a c t i o n t a k e n by the U n i v e r s i t y on the g r o u n d that a c t i o n was 1 A o s e v e r e than p r e s c r i b e d. 07

113 W h i l e m a l p r a c t i c e s in the e x a m i n a t i o n hall by the s t u d e n t is to be s t r o n g l y c o n d e m n e d and c u r t a i l e d, yet a u t h o r i t i e s are expected to act fairly, in d e a l i n g w i t h the a l l e g a t i o n * of m a l practice. It it n o t n e c e s s a r y to s t r i c t l y o b s e r v e the rules of natural j u s t i c e in these case, but even when the s i m b i l e n c e of fairness is n o t shown the C o u r t s have no option but to i n t e r f e r e.170 E v e n if the c a n d i d a t e is found g u i l t y of m a l p r a c tice, too h a r s h an a t t i t u d e is u n w a r r a n t e d, thus the q u a n t u m of p u n i s h m e n t in n o c a s e should be too harsh, u n r e a s o n a b l e and e x c e e - s i v e In A.K. Kraipak V Union of India,1-72 the o b j e c t and in the c o n c e p t of n a t u r a l j u s t i c e w a s e x p lained! c h a n g e s " T h e aim of the Natural J u s t i c e is to s e c u r e j u s t i c e or to put it n e g a t i v e l y to p r e v e n t miscar riage of j UBtice. T h e s e rules can o p e r a t e o n l y in a r e a s n o t c o v e r e d by law v a l i d l y made". In the past it w a B t h o u g h t that it i n c l u d e d just two p r i n c i p l e s n a m e l y (a) no one shall be the j u d g e in his own c a s e (b) no d e c i s i o n shall be given a g a i n s t any p a r t y w i t h o u t a f f o r d i n g him a r e a s o n a b l e hearing. V e r y s o o n a third r u l e was a l s o e n v i s a g e d i.e. that q u a s i - j u d i c i a l e n q u i r y m u s t be held in good faith w i t h o u t bias, and n o t a r b i t r a r i l y or u n r e a s o n a b l y. " The r u l e s of n a t u r a l j u s t i c e are n o t e m b o d i e d rules. What p a r t i c u l a r r u l e of n a t u r a l j u s t i c e s h o u l d a p p l y will d e p e n d on the facts and c i r c u m s t a n c e s of that case, the f r a m e work of law u n d e r w h i c h e n q u i r y is held and b o d y of p e r s o n s a p p o i n t e d for the pur

114 pose. W h e n e v e r a c o m p l a i n t is made before the C o u r t that some p r i n c i p l e of n atural j u s t i c e has been v i o lated, the C o u r t has to d e c i d e w h e t h e r the o b s e r v a n c e of the rule w a s n e c e s s a r y for a just decision on the facts of the c a s e Th u s N A T U R A L J U S T I C E m u s t be o b s e r v e d even when the U n i v e r s ity s t a t u t e s a r e s i l e n t in the m a t t e r before taking any action a g a i n s t the s t u d e n t in this r e g a r d And if an a l l e g a t i o n of m a l - p r a c t i c e in the e x a m i n a t i o n is based on the r e p o r t of the Invigilator, the e x a m i n e e m u s t be a l l o w e d to c o n f r o n t the I n v i g i l a t o r. 175 T h e r e f o r e b e f o r e c a n c e l l i n g the e x a m i n a t i o n of the c a n d i d a t e or h o l d i n g the result of the c a n d i d a t e on the g r o u n d of u n f a i r m e a n s in the e x a m i n a t i o n, it is a d v i s a b l e 1 7 6! 1) not to c o l l e c t m a t e r i a l s behind the back of the c a n d i d a t e i 2) n o t to a n n o u n c e a d e c i s i o n w i t h o u t a p p l y i n g m i n d ; 3) n o t to w i t h - h o l d m a t e r i a l s r e a s o n a b l y d e m a n d e d by the c a n d i d a t e for s u b m i t t i n g the e x p l a n a t i o n T h e r e f o r e, in the e x e r c i s e of the s t a t u t o r y d i s c r e t i o n, no p a r t i c u l a r p r o c e d u r e is n e c e s s a r i l y to be followed. T h e o n l y l i m i t a t i o n is that it s h o u l d be d o n e 'fairly' h o n e s t l y and in good faith, 'uninfluenced' by 'extraneous' 'motives'. T h e r u l e s of natural j u s t i c e a r e to be a p p l i e d in e v e r y c a s e w h e r e r i g h t s of c i t i z e n s a r e a f f e c t e d a d v e r s e l y by any e x e c u t i v e action.

115 The P R O C E D U R E of rules of natural J u s t i c e are of elastic conception, e s p e c i a l l y when a p p l i e d to e d u c a t i o n a l i nstitutions. Generally, the f o l l o w i n g p r i n c i p l e s are f o l l o w e d in regard to e d u c ational i n s t i t u t i o n s I- (a) O p p o r t u n i t y to e x p l a i n the c h a r g e may be given at any s t a g e. 177 (b) n o t i c e of c h a r g e should be g i v e n.1 7 B. (c) c h a r g e s should be specific. S p e c i f i c a t i o n is not h o w e v e r n e c e s s a r y when, a special c i r c u m s t a n c e s of a c a s e it is not p o s s i b l e to i d e n t i f y the i n d i v i d u als, actual act e.g. in m a s s d e m o n s t r a t i o n. 179 (d) r i g h t of c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n the w i t n e s s e s w h o a p p e a r d u r i n g the c o u r s e of e n q u i r y c o n d u c t e d by e d u c a t i o n a l authority. (e) a c c e s s to the e n t i r e record and r e p o r t s c o l lected d u r i n g the e n quiry. 1 i 2 i 2 Haw Copying The u n i v e r s i t i e s a r e r e s p o n s i b l e for t h e i r s t a n d a r d and c o n d u c t of e x a m i n a t i o n. T h e e s s e n c e of the e x a m i n a t i o n is that the w o r t h of e v e r y person is a p p r a i s e d w i t h o u t any a s s i s t a n c e from o u t s i d e B ource. If at a c e n t r e w h o l e body of s t u d e n t s r e c e i v e a s s i s t a n c e o r r e s o r t to m a s s - c o p y i n g and m a n a g e to s e c u r e 100'/. w h e n o t h e r s at o t h e r c e n t r e s a r e s u c c e s s f u l o n l y at an a v e r a g e of 50"/., it is o b v i o u s that U n i v e r s i t y m u s t do s o m e t h i n g in this

116 n o m a t t e r. It c a n n o t hold d e t a i l e d q u a s i - j u d i c i a l e n q u i r y w i t h the right to its s t u d e n t s to plead and lead e v i d e n c e,e t c, before the results are w i t h - h e l d or the e x a m i n a t i o n c a n celled. If there is s u f f i c i e n t m a t e r i a l to d e m o n s t r a t e that U n i v e r s i t y w a s right in its c o n c l u s i o n that the e x a m i n a t i o n o u g h t to be c a n c e l l e d then academic s t a n d a r d s r e q u i r e that U n i v e r s i t i e s a p p r e c i a t i o n of the p roblem m u s t be respected. It would not just on the part of the Court to say that y o u should have e x a m i n e d all the c a n d i d a t e s or their r e p r e s e n t a t i v e w i t h the v i e w to a s c e r t a i n w h e t h e r they had r e ceived a s s i s t a n c e or r e s o r t e d to m a s s - c o p y i n g or not. To d o this would e n c o u r a g e in d i s c i p l i n e. In Ram Narian Shah V Banglore University3^ m a s s - c o p y i n g was d e t e c t e d by F l y i n g - S q u a d. A f t e r e n q u i r y by M a l p r a c t i c e E n q u i r y Committee, the V i c e - C h a n c e l l o r passed an o r d e r on the r e c o m m e n d a tion of the C o m m i t t e e, d e n y i n g the b e n e f i t of p e r f o r m a n c e to 28 c a n d i d a t e s and e x o n e r a t i n g 10 c a n d i d a t e s. T h e C o u r t found v a r i o u s lacuna in the p r o c e d u r e a d o p t e d by the U n i v e r s i t y and also i m p o s i tion of p e n a l t y by the VC u n d e r his d i s c r e t i o n a r y powers, w i t h o u t any a p p l i c a t i o n of his m i n d. d The C o u r t t h e r e f o r e i n v a l i d a t e d the d e c i s i o n. When m a s s c o p y i n g t a k e s p l a c e it is n o t p r a c t i c a b l e to afford an o p p o r t u n i t y to e a c h and e v e r y c a n d i d a t e to be heard. It is a l r e a d y well e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t in said c a s e s t h e r e is n o t v i o l a tion of r u l e s of n a t u r a l j u s t i c e if a d e c i s i o n to cancel is taken by the U n i v e r s i t y a u t h o r i t i e s. 181 It has b e e n r e i t e r a t e d in Piara Singh V Punjabi O n i v» r» i t y 182 the H i g h C o u r t observed, "The m e n a c e of m a s s c o p y i n g in the e x a m i n a t i o n c o n d u c t e d by the U n i v e r s i t y or the School B o a r d s is

117 on an i n c r e a s e and is likely to a s s u m e alarming p r o p o r t i o n in future, if same is not curbed by a u t h o r i t i e s in time, w h o are duty bound to m a i n t a i n a c a d e m i c s t a n d a r d s in the country." H o w e v e r when a m a s s - c o p y i n g in an e x a m i n a t i o n is a l l e g e d the a u t h o r i t i e s will not act in a d i s c r i m i n a t o r y manner. T h e r e action should be just and r e a s o n a b l e. 183 In Bmj Kumar Agmrmmllm V Cal. Uniysermity* - ^. R e g a r d i n g m a s s - copying the C a l c u t t a H i g h C o u r t showed g r e a t c o n c e r n o v e r the i n c r e a s i n g p r a c t i c e of m a s s - c o p y i n g and o b s e r v e d that it "is u n f o r t u n a t e l y b e c o m i n g an u n s e e m i n g l y feature of o u r e d u c a t i o n a l system, w h i c h is r e f l e c t i o n of d e c a y i n g moral s t a n d a r d s in all the s p h e r e s of our s o c i e t y. " In o r d e r to g u a r d a g a i n s t s u c h a s i t u a t i o n C o u r t issued five directions, namely: a) the i n v i g i l a t o r s B h o u l d be p r e s e n t in the e x a m i n a t i o n hall t h r o u g h o u t the time, the e x a m i n a t i o n c o n t i n u e s. b) the e x a m i n a t i o n a u t h o r i t y m u s t e n s u r e proper e n t r a n c e of the students; c) s t u d e n t s m u s t be a l l o w e d in a hall a f t e r p r o p e r v e r i f i c a t i o n and s e a r c h at the entrance? and

118 w h e r e v e r n e c e B s a r y a d e q u a t e police force should be provided) d) the U n i v e r s i t y s h o u l d d a p u t e an o b s e r v e r who m u st be an o u t - s i d e r to report all the incidents in the e x a m i n a t i o n hall; e) h o n e s t and b o n a f i d e e x a m i n e e s should not be held in ransom Misconduct in Examination In s o m e c a s e s a n s w e r s of the examinees, are found s i m i l a r to those g i v e n by the a l l e g e d e x a m i n e e s who used u n f a i r m e a n s in e x a m i n a t i o n. In s u c h c a s e s i m p o s i t i o n of p e n a l t y w i t h e n q u i r y and g r a n t of h e a r i n g will be d e e m e d as illegal. An i n t e r e s t e d c a s e of a l l e g e d v i o l e n c e a f t e r the e x a m i n a t i o n is s u p p o r t e d by a B a u h a t i c a i e The a l l e g a t i o n a g a i n s t the s t u d e n t was, that a f t e r f i n i s h i n g his last paper, the s t u d e n t a s s a u l t e d a t e a c h e r w h i l e he w a s r e t u r n i n g home after e x a m i n a t i o n. W i t h o u t g i v i n g any o p p o r t u n i t y to the s t udent, the U n i v e r s i t y a u t h o r i t i e s did n o t c a n c e l l e d the e x a m i n a t i o n, but a l s o d e b a r r e d him from a p p e a r i n g at any U n i v e r s i t y e x a m i n a t i o n for two years. S i n c e the r e c o r d did n o t c o r b o r a t e the u s e of u n f a i r m e a n s at the e x a m i n a t i o n, the H i g h C o u r t, had to q u a s h the o r d e r on the g r o u n d of v i o l a t i o n of r u l e of natural j ustice. T h e H i g h C o u r t s t r e s s e d the e l e m e n t of c o n t r a c t b e t w e e n the U n i v e r s i t y and the s t udent, in the m a t t e r s of e x a m i n a t i o n. T h e s t u d e n t it w a s observed, pay fee for a p p e a r i n g in the e x a m i n a t i o n and ' e x a m i n e e shall n o t be a r b i trarily d e p r i v e d of t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y of a p p e a r i n g in

119 examination. In y e t a n o t h e r c a s e four s t u d e n t s w h o w e r e p e t i t i o n ers b e f o r e the H i m a c h a l P r a d e s h H i g h C o u r t 186 w e r e c h a r g e d with d i s t u r b a n c e in e x a m i n a t i o n hall, just after the d i s t r i b u t i o n of q uestion papers. A p a n d e m o n i u m e n s u e d p r e s u m a b l y b e c a u s e s o m e of the s t u d e n t B t h o u g h t that the q u e s t i o n paper w a s stiff. S t o o l s a n d desks w e r e o v e r turned. S i n c e o r d e r l y c o n d u c t of the e x a m i n a t i o n b ecame i m p o s s i b l e, all the a n s w e r books w e r e c o l l e c t e d and the e x a m i n a t i o n hall w a s cleared. V a r i o u s p u n i s h m e n t s w e r e a w a r d e d th e exam in e e s a n d, fo u r B tu d e n ts were d i s q u a l i f i e d f o r one 187 year. C h a r g e s a g a i n s t the p e t i t i o n e r s varied from, inciting and leading the part in the d i s t u r b a n c e ; pushing a s i d e invigilators, t h r e a t e n i n g w i t h k n i f e and w a n t o n a c t s of m i s b e h a v i o r. Thus the p e t i t i o n e r s w e r e d i s q u a l i f i e d for two and three years. Held that p u n i s h m e n t w a s v a l i d and n o t in v i o l a t i o n of rules of natural j u s t i c e. 188 to The o t h e r m a l p r a c t i c e s, w h i l e on the basis of w h i c h the p u n i s h m e n t is a w a r d e d are p o o r a n s w e r s in the w h o l e book and b r i l l i a n t a n s w e r s in the c o p i e d portion, identical s o l utions, identical a n s w e r s, t e m p e r i n g of a n s w e r s c r i p t s s u b s e q u e n t to the e x a m i n a t i o n s, a n s w e r s i n s e r t e d w r i t t e n from out Bide the e x a m i n a tion hall, or a n s w e r s a r e v e r b a t i m r e p r o d u c t i o n from the t e x t books, p r i o r k n o w l e d g e of q u e s t i o n paper, f r a u d u l e n t c o n d u c t in r e l a t i o n to the w r i t i n g of e x a m i n a t i o n, etc. In all such c a s e s w h i l e a w a r d i n g p u n i s h m e n t the r u l e B of n atural j u s t i c e a r e to be o b s e r v e d.18<^

120 214 in il3ii Award of Marks The r e g u l a t i o n s of the U n i v e r s i t i e s g e n e r a l l y require m i n i m u m m a r k s in e a c h paper or s u b j e c t or a higher m i n i m u m in the a g g r e g a t e for p a s s i n g the e x a m i n a t i o n. It is o b v i o u s that the m i n i m u m must be s a t i s f i e d by the student. It ib not e n o u g h that the s t u d e n t has s ecured, the m i n i m u m m a r k s in e a c h paper. In few ca s e s q u e s t i o n m a y a r i s e as to " M i n i m u m of What?" In a c a s e before the A s s a m H i g h C o u r t 190 the law c o u r s e s c o n s i s t of two y e a r s and the e x a m i n a t i o n was held at the end of the each year. It was co n t e n d e d by the c a n d i d a t e that in c o u n t i n g the a g g r e g a t e for the second year, the first y e a r should also be c o n s i d e r e d. In other words it w a s c o n t e n d e d that t h e r e should be c o m b i n e d a s s e s s m e n t for the two years. The plea w a s n o t accepted. The R u l e s or R e g u l a t i o n s r e l a t i n g to m i n i m u m pass m a r k s p assing an e x a m i n a t i o n has c r e a t e d f o l l o w i n g problems, n amelyt for i) w h e t h e r r e q u i r e m e n t s of 'Minimum Marks' in a s u b j e c t i m p l i e s that c a n d i d a t e m u s t secure m i n i m u m in each; ii) w h e t h e r it is n e c e s s a r y that the c a n d i d a t e must s e c u r e m i n i m u m in the i n ternal a s s e s s m e n t a l s o... or w h e t h e r the m i n i m u m m a r k s o b t a i n e d by the c a n d i d a t e in internal a s s e s s m e n t and in final w r i t t e n e x a m i n a t i o n, m u s t be taken as a whole. T h e C o u r t 191 has g e n e r a l l y taken the v i e w that it is e n o u g h if the c a n d i d a t e has

121 215 s e c u r e d m i n i m u m m a r k s in c o u n t i n g both t o g e t h er) iii) W h e t h e r the two y e a r s c o u r s e w i t h annual e x a m i n a t i o n, c a n d i d a t e can a g g r e g a t e the marks in both the e x a m i n a t i o n s as to r e a c h the m i n i m u m for the p u r p o s e s of the results. T h e s e c o n t r o v e r s i e s have c r e a t e d lot of c o n f u s i o n in the regular, as well as, in D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n c o u r s e s o f f e r e d by the U n i v e r s i t y of K a s h m i r. To avoid s u c h c o n t r o v e r s i e s, the ideal c o u r s e w o u l d be to take u t m o s t care in framing r e g u l a t i o n s as to the m i n i m u m marks. 1 i 3 i 2 Number of Attempts T h e E d u c a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t i o n s c a n n o t o p e n its d o o r s for u n s u c c e s s f u l s t u d e n t s for i n d e f i n i t e n u m b e r of y e a r s. 192 It may p r e s c r i b e that the u n s u c c e s s f u l s t u d e n t s m i g h t g e t t h r e e o r four s u c c e s s i v e c h a n c e s to c l e a r the e x a m i n a t i o n. In a c a s e w h e r e a p e t i t i o n e r f a i l e d t h r e e times, by m i s t a k e got the a d m i t card, but later on a f t e r d i s c o v e r y of the fact, that he had a l r e a d y a p p e a r e d three t i m e s h i s A d m i t Card w a s c a n c e l l e d. T h e r e u p o n he m o v e d the Co u r t for g r a n t of relief, but as the U n i v e r s i t y r e g u l a t i o n p r o vided and p e r m i t t e d o n l y t h r e e c h a n c e s, the C o u r t did n o t a c c e p t the d o c t r i n e of e s t o p p e l and the p e t i t i o n w a s d i s m i s s e d. 193 In such a s i t u a t i o n the S u p r e m e C o u r t has o p i n e d that if a s t u d e n t is allowed tot c o n t i n u e i n d e f i n i t e l y to a t t e n d t h e I n s t i t u t i o n w i t h o u t a d e q u a t e a p p l i c a t i o n, c o n t i n u e to o f f e r

122 itself for s u c c e s s i v e e x a m i n a t i o n s a lowering of a c a d e m i c s t a n d a r d s w o u l d i n e v i t a b l y result." Thus in this c a s e that rule of U n i v e r s i t y p r o h i b i t i n g a student who has failed in the e x a m i n a t i o n for c e r t a i n n u m b e r of years was not u l t r a - v i r e s, the U n i v e r s i t y Act, as such the rule c o m e s within the powers of the U n i v e r s i t y to m a i n t a i n the academic standard*. In Kiriti V Oujrat Un i v e r s i t y the O r d i n a n c e framed by the Gu j r a t U n i v e r s i t y for the F a c u l t y of M e d i c i n e provided that the c a n d i d a t e w h o failed to pass his e x a m i n a t i o n on five o c c a s i o n s would not be e l i g i b l e to r e a p p e a r there at. A c a n d i d a t e who had failed to pass in four attempts, filled a form for a p p e a r i n g in the e x a m i n a t i o n the fifth time but later w i t h d r a w his form from the d a t e of e x a m i n a t i o n on a c c o u n t of u n a v o i d a b l e c i r c u m s t a n c e s. The q u e s t i o n wasi w o u l d it be p r e s u m e d that in this a t t e m p t also he failed to p a s s the e x a m i n a t i o n. T h e Court, i n t e r p r e t e d the w o r d s " f a i l e d to pass the e x a m i n a t i o n " to mean" five actual trials' or m e a n i n g t h e r e b y five o c c a s i o n s on w h i c h the s t u d e n t r e a l l y sit at the e x a m i n a t i o n s " T h u s relief was g r a n t e d to the c a n d i d a t e and he w a s a l l o w e d to a p p e a r in the e x a m i n a t i o n. S i m i l a r l y Seem* Sharma is a c a s e of an u n f o r t u n a t e c a n d i d a t e w h o c l e a r e d B.Sc. P a r t II and P a r t III but c o u l d not c l e a r B.Sc. P a r t 1 i n spite of two c h a n c e s. As per the p r o v i s i o n s and s t a t u t e s of the Punjabi U n i v e r s i t y, P a t i a l a s h e w a s n o t a l l o w e d to a p p e a r in the e x a m i n a t i o n of B.Sc. P a r t I third time. T h e P u n j a b and H a r y a n a Hi g h a d o p t e d a s y m p a t h e t i c v i e w of this c a s e and took the stand that it w o u l d be t o o h a r s h and s t r i n g e n t to put the clock back at this s t a g e and a l l o w e d her o n e m o r e c h a n c e to a p p e a r in the e x a m i nation.

123 2 1 / In Sandemp Shenai C a * e 196 the p e t i t i o n e r could not a p p e a r in the final e x a m i n a t i o n of M B B B c o u r s e d u e to illness. T h i s was treated as the first attempt, and, he was c o n s i d e r e d as the repeater in the second e x a m i n a t i o n, where in, he got first class with d i s t i n c t i o n. The R u l e s of the U n i v e r s i t y p r o v i d e d that only those c a n d i d a t e w h o passed the e x a m i n a t i o n in whole, in the first attempt w o u l d be e l i g i b l e for d i s t i n c t i o n and prize or medal. In view of this R u l e p e t i t i o n e r was d e p r i v e d of d i s t i n c t i o n. The Co u r t did n o t treat the f a i l u r e to a p p e a r in the e x a m i n a t i o n as an attempt, and o r d e r e d the U n i v e r s i t y to award the p e t i t i o n e r first cl a s s w i t h d i s t i n c t i o n. As far as the p o l i c y of d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n and Open L e a r n i n g is c o n c e r n e d, the R u l e s a r e liberal and s t u d e n t s are a l l o w e d to appear in the e x a m i n a t i o n at their c o n v e n i e n c e and time. No limitations of a t t e m p t s 1b p r o v i d e d in the Statutes. In c a s e of D i s tance E d u c a t i o n, U n i v e r s i t y of Kashmir, the total n u m b e r of y e a r s for p a s s i n g the e x a m i n a t i o n s h o u l d be raised from 3 to h years. Ia3:3 B r a c e M» r K» The E d u c a t i o n A u t h o r i t i e s have power to g i v e g r a c e or moder ation m a r k s to the c a n d i d a t e s w h i l e s c r u t i n i z i n g the m a r k s o b tained by t h e m in d i f f e r e n t p a p e r s b e f o r e d e c l a r i n g the results. There is a d i s t r i b u t i o n b e t w e e n the B r a c e M a r k s and M o d e r a t i o n Marks. T h e f o r m e r a r e g i v e n to pull up the c a n d i d a t e s to pass the e x a m i n a t i o n and later a r e g i v e n to c a n d i d a t e s as a d d i t i o n a l m a r k s for s o m e r e a s o n a b l e good, and s u f f i c i e n t cause. It is o p e n for the U n i v e r s i t y to a d o p t o n e s y s t e m for o n e y e a r and o t h e r in the next year. The C o u r t w o u l d not q u e s t i o n the d e c i s i o n of the a c a d e m i c

124 body in this regard. T h e r e is also no d i s c r i m i n a t i o n i n volved for adopting d i f f e r e n t c r i t e r i a for d i f f e r e n t years. The U n i v e r s i t y can c h a n g e the r u l e s r e l a t i n g to g r a c e m a r k s for a s u b s e q u e n t y e a r, yet the rules c a n n o t be c h a n g e d to the d e t r i m e n t of the s t u d e n t s. 197 In Nirupama V S t a t e 1 9, the E d u c a t i o n A u t h o r i t i e s in q u e s tion d e c l a r e d few s t u d e n t s as u n s u c c e s s f u l in the e x a m i n a t i o n co n d u c t e d by it. On a r e p r e s e n t a t i o n by those student*, the a u t h o r i t y r e v i e w e d the r e s u l t s and d e c l a r e d them to have passed e x a m i n a t i o n a f t e r g i v i n g t h e m g r a c e marks. S u b s e q u e n t l y again, the A u t h o r i t y on taking the v i e w of the R e g u l a t i o n s did not c o n f e r power on it to r e v i e w the r e s u l t s d e c l a r i n g them as having failed in the e x a m i n a t i o n. In m e a n t i m e, those c a n d i d a t e * pursued further studies. It w a s held, in the a b s e n c e of r e g u l a t i o n * p r o h i b i t i n g a u t h o r i t y to r e v i e w the r e s u l t s a l r e a d y d e c l a r e d it had the power to d o so. T h e C o u r t of course, c a u t i o n e d that the r e s u l t of an e x a m i n a t i o n are n o t be i n t e r f e r e d w i t h lightly, but a s i t u a t i o n may a r i s e w h e r e e x c e p t i o n a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s may w a r r a n t a r e c o n s i d eration. T h e C o u r t a l s o invoked the d o c t r i n e of e q u i t a b l e e stoppel in p r o h i b i t i n g the a u t h o r i t y from s u b s e q u e n t l y d e c l a r i n g tha c a n d i d a t e s as failed. Th e P u n j a b U n i v e r s i t y Act, S e c t i o n 31 (8 )(h) w a s at issue in a case b e f o r e the S u p r e m e Court. A R e g u l a t i o n w a s m a d e r e g a r d i n g some p e r c e n t a g e of m a r k s to be a w a r d e d as g r a c e m a r k s to c a n d i dates a p p e a r i n g in A c a n d i d a t e j o i n e d M B B B c o u r s e in 1965, but a p p e a r e d for final M B B B in In the m e a n t i m e in 1970, the R e g u l a t i o n w a s a m e n d e d r e g a r d i n g the p e r c e n t a g e of g r a c e m a r k * for MBBS c a n d i d a t e s. It w a * held that a m e n d m e n t w a s not i n v a l i d as r e g a r d s the c a n d i d a t e in the i n s t a n t case. A d e c l a r a t i o n that the

125 213 c a n d i d a t e failed by v i r t u e of the amended r e g u l a t i o n was not invalid. T h e r e w a s no e l e m e n t of 'r e t r o s p s c t i v i t y ' in the c h a n g e b rought by amendment. No p r o m i s e was m a d e to the c a n d i d a t e at the time of a d m i s s i o n that ru l e s relating t h e r e t o w h i c h were in force at the time of a d m i s s i o n would c o n t i n u e to be applied to him till he finished h i s w h o l e c o u r s e. 1" Is3»4 E v a l u a t i o n and R e - E v a l u a t i o n t The p r o c e s s of E v a l u a t i o n of answer c o p i e s or s u b s e q u e n t v e r i f i c a t i o n of m a r k s d o e s not i n v o l v e any v i o l a t i o n of rulsb of natural justice, b e c a u s e it d o e s not involve any a d v e r s e evil c o n s e q u e n c e s to the e x a m i n e e s, the p r i n c i p l e of n atural j u s t i c e c a n n o t be e x t e n d e d beyond r e a s o n a b l e and r ational limits and c a n n o t be c a r r i e d to such a b s u r d lengths as to m a k e it n e c e s s a r y that the c a n d i d a t e w h o has taken a public e x a m i n a t i o n should be allowed to p a r t i c i p a t e in the p r o c e s s of e v a l u a t i o n of their p e r f o r m a n c e or to v e r i f y the c o r r e c t n e s s of the e v a l u a t i o n m a d e by the e x a m i n e e s, by t h e m s e l v e s c o n d u c t i n g i n s p e c t i o n of the a n s w e r books and d e t e r m i n i n g w h e t h e r there has been fair and proper e v a l uation of the a n s w e r s by the e x a m i n e r s. 200 S i m i l a r l y the s t u d e n t has no right to d e m a n d R e - E v a l u a t i o n of a n s w e r copies, u n l e s s rules p r o v i d e it. A l t h o u g h right of ree v a l u a t i o n m a y be p r o v i d e d by the Rules, the p r o b l e m still a r i s e as to the p r e c i s e s c o p e of the r e - e v a l u a t i o n s o u g h t by the e x a m inees. T h e r e - e v a l u a t i o n c o u l d be a d o u b l e e d g e d w eapon, in some c a s e s r e e v a l u a t i o n is s o u g h t w i t h the o b j e c t i v e s of s e c u r i n g m o r e m a r k s and in c e r t a i n cases, it w o r k s o u t to the d i s a d v a n t a g e of the c a n d i d a t e and m a r k s m a y be r e d u c e d on evaluation.

126 In Lalit Taori's it was held that c a n d i d a t e whose marks a r e r e d u c e d on r e - e v a l u a t i o n c a n n o t file e writ petition to s e t - a s i d e r e - e v a l u a t i o n. The c a n d i d a t e failed after r e e v a luation, the C o u r t held that result of the r e e v a l u a t i o n is to be a c cepted as c o rrect. In yet a n o t h e r c a s e Bhagat Ram V H.P. Univmrsity The c a n d i d a t e was a w a r d e d higher m a r k s on r e e v a l u a t i o n, became e l i g i b l e for s c h o l a r s h i p and gold medal. The U n i v e r s i t y d e n i e d this p r i v i l e g e to the p e t i t i o n e r on the plea that U n i v e r s i t y O r d i n a n c e d o e s n o t permit any such p r i v i l e g e to a candidate. The Court held that E x e c u t i v e Council of H. P. U n i v e r s i t y had no a u t hority to amend the O r d i n a n c e r e t r o s p e c t i v e l y and the c a n d i d a t e w as e n t i t l e d to s c h o l a r s h i p and m e d a l. 2 5 W h e r e a n s w e r c o p y was not a v a i l a b l e for r e - e v a l u a t i o n the Court d i r e c t e d e i t h e r the a v e r a g e m a r k s o b t a i n e d in o t h e r s u b j e c t s be g r a n t e d to the p e t i t i o n e r or he may be p e r m i t t e d to take u p the fresh e x a m i n a t i o n. S i m i l a r l y the p e t i t i o n e r got an i n c r e a s e of 3X m a r k s on r e - e v a l u a t i o n of o n e paper, by this 3V. i n c r e a s e the c a n d i d a t e got h i g h e s t p a s s p e r c e n t a g e in LL.B. e x a m i n a t i o n and secured a p o s i t i o n in the U n i v e r s i t y. The p o s i t i o n of the c a n d i d a t e w a s r e j e c t e d by the Court, b e c a u s e rules did n o t permit it. His c o n t e n t i o n, that his r e s u l t has been m o d i f i e d a f t e r ree v a l u a t i o n and he be d e c l a r e d to have s e c u r e d first position, rejected by t he Court. It is humbly s u b m i t t e d that the C o u r t should n o t have taken h i g h l y rigid a t t i t u d e in this case, the 207 benefit s h o u l d h a v e been g i v e n to the c a n d i d a t e. The re- e v a l u a t i o n e n t i t l e d a s t u d e n t to c l a i m a c o r r e s p o n d i n g c h a n g e in the M e r i t L i s t and e n t i t l e him to award or medal. T h e re- e v a l u a t i o n s h o u l d a c c o r d full p r i v i l e g e s and b e n e f i t to c a n d i - was

127 221 REFERENCES i Peters, 0 Moore, K.B. S e w a r t, D., H o l m b e r g B, H o l m b e r g, B (1977) H o l m b e r g,b (1974) Moore, K.Q. K e e g a n D, Flinck, R. P eters, 0 (1973) S e w e t D, Keegan),D B o r j i H o l m b e r Id, P e t e r s,0 F o k s. J (1979) P e t e r, R. S S e w a r t D, Keegan D S< H o l m b e r g, B T h e o r e t i c a l A s p e c t s of C o r r e s p o n d e n c e E d u c a - tion 1973, p. 206 Toward a Theory of I n d e p e n d e n t L e a r n i n g and te a c h i n g JHE 44, (1973) D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n - I n t e r n ational P e r s p e c tive. C r o o m H e l m New York, 1993 p. 7 D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n a S u r v e y & B i b l i o g r a p h y L o n d o n p. 9 D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n - a s h o r t - H a n d book M.Her m o n d s p. 11 T o w a r d s a T h e o r y of i n d e p e n d e n t L e a r n i n g and T e a c h i n g J H E (1973) D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n - I n t e r national P e r s p e c t i v e,n Y.1993 p.9 (1973). T e l e p h o n e as an instrumental aid in d i s t a n c e e d u c a t i o n - A s u r v e y of L i t e r a t u r e P. R e p o r t s, U n i v e r s i t y of London. " T h e o r e t i c a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n of C o r r e s p o n d e n c e E d u c a t i o n " Uny. Park L o n d o n p. 104 D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n - International P e r s p e c t i v e CH, NY (1993) p. 116 (1973) p R e p o r t on ICCE C o n f e r e n c e A S P E 8A News letter,p. 5,2,35 E d u c a t i o n as I n i t i a t i o n - In A r c h a m b a u l t ( E d ) p. 104 D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n International P e r s p e c t i v e NY Ed ( 1993) p. 18

128 IB S a h o o P K D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n a World wide P e r s p e c tive " J I E 1986, July Vaidchi M. T h e o r e t i c a l B a s e s of DEi An A n a l y s i s and S y n t h e s i s N a tional S e m i n a r A h m a d a b a d 19B6, B ahoo, P. K Open L e a r n i n g S y s t e m p.41. S ahoo, P. K Open L e a r n i n g S y s t e m (1994) Ed. p. 99 G r o w t h 6< P h i l o s o p h y of D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n IBNOU, p. 30 Sahoo, P.K. O p e n L e a r n i n g S y s t e m (1994) Ed. p.75 P r o c e e d i n g s of Regional S e m i n a r on DE 1986 p u b l i s h e d by ADB p. 137 B. R a m R e d d y D i s t a n c e Education, What, W h y and H o w (Btudy in D. E d u c a t i o n ) p. 15 C h a l l a n g e B to E d u c a t i o n : P o l i c y P e r s p e c t i v e s (1985) Bovt. of India, M i n i s t r y of Education. B a k h s h i s h Singhi C o r r e s p o n d c e n c e E d u c a t i o n in India N C C E p.l T h i r d F i v e Year Plan, Bovt. of India, d o c u m e n t para 33. B a k h s h i s h Singhi C o r r e s p o n d e n c e E d u c a t i o n in India NCCE India 81. B o o t St H o d g s o n I O p e n L e a r n i n g P h i l o s o p h y Or e f f i c i e n c y PLET V o l. 29 No. 3 Aug 1988 p. 25 S ahoo, P.K. O p e n L e a r n i n g S y s t e m 1994 Ed. U. P. D e l h i p. 7 S t a t u t e 5 of the C h a p t e r V of the K a s h m i r & J a m m u U n i v e r s i ties A c t 1969, r e a d s as under: "No c a n d i d a t e w h o w i s h e s to e n t e r u p o n a c o u r s e of s t u d y p r e s c r i b e d by the U n i v e r s i t y shall be a d m i t ted to an a f f i l i a t e d o r c o n s t i t u e n t c o l l e g e o r a U n i v e r s i t y D e p a r t m e n t of a r e c o g n i s e d i n s t i t u t i o n u n l e s s h e / s h e has passed the q u a l i f y i n g e x a m i n a t i o n for a d m i s s i o n to s u c h c o u r s e s p r e s c r i b e d by the S t a t u t e s. 11

129 P a r e s h Kumar V the S t a t e AIR 1903 Quj K. C h a n d r a v O r i s a B o a r d of S e c o n d a r y E d u c a t i o n.a I R 1903 Ori A I R 1971 P & H AIR 1973 P & H AIR 1979 Kere In S a n t o s h Kumar v S t a t e A I R 1970 MP 226. W h e r e p r e f e r e n c e g i v e to B.Sc. part I o v e r the i n t e r m e d i a t e 37. M. R a m a n a v Govt, of A.P. A I R 1981 AP H. K u m a r V S t a t e A I R 1974 H P A I R 1992 S C A I R S C A I R 1992 Delhi 362 d e g r e e w a s up-held. 42. R e p o r t of the B a j a n d h a r g a d k a r C o m m i t t e e on Legal Education in XII A D L R 27 (1983) 43. C.T h a n i y a v S t a t e A I R Ker A I R All K.P. G a n g u l y v U n i v e r s i t y of L u c k n o w A I R 1984 p S t a t u t e 5.3 Cl (viii) p r o v i d e s that a c a n d i d a t e w h o s e result is not d e c l a r e d or o t h e r w i s e w i t h h e l d for any reason in result n o t i f i c a t i o n m a y be a l l o w e d to join n e x t h i g h e r c l a s s p r o v i s i o n a l l y. In c a s e h e / s h e is s u b s e q u e n t l y d e c l a r e d by the U n i v e r s i t y a s h a v i n g failed h i s / h e r a d m i s s i o n to h i g h e r c l a s s shall s t a n d c a n c e l l e d " - U n i v e r s i t y Council R e s o l u t i o n dated P r i n c i p a l, King G e o r g e Medical College, L u c k n o w v Dr. V Kumar AIR S C p B akshi, PM, E d u c a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t i o n s & Judicial C ontrol A n a l y s i s and G u i d e l i n e s ILI, 1987 p 10.

130 In U n i v e r s i t y of Kashmir, E n t r a n c e Test was p r e s c r i b e d for admission to all P o s t - g r a d u a t e C o u r s e s by a U n i v e r s i t y Council R e s o l u t i o n AP AIR 1993 Del 25 at Dr. S h a h t a n u S i n g h C a s e 53. Annual S u r v e y of L a w s ILI 1993 p Kanpur U n i v e r s i t y v S a m i r G u p t a AIR 19S3 SC AIR 1964 SC 1823 and in Anil M a h a j a n v S t a t e AIR 1980 J&K 34 ( F. B ). 56. AI R 1967 J& K 106 (F.B) 57. A. P. C h e t t i a r v S t a t e of T.N. AIR 1971 SC A P e r i a k a r a p p a m v S t a t e of T.N. A I R 1971 be A j a y H a s i a v Khalid M u j i b A I R 1981 S C J.N.U. S t u d e n t U n i o n v J.N.U. AIR 1985 Sc K a i j a r i S a h a v S t a t e A I R 1976 Cal J. D a s v S t a t e AIR 1981 Ker P. P a t t a j o s h y v U ngaraj L a w C o l l e g e AIR 1977 Ori S.A. M a n j u n a t h v Uny of B a n g l o r e AIR 1967 Mys AI R 1972 Mys Z e n a a t v P r i n c e of W a l e s Medical C o l l e g e A I R 1971 pat AIR 1968 Delhi AIR 1978 P & H AI R 1979 SC S u r e n d a r a Pal v G o v e r n m e n t M edical C o l l e g e A I R 1965 J & K P u n j a b U n i v e r s i t y v P.C. H a n d a AalR 1971 P & H S t a t u t e 5 s u b - c l a u s e 3 0, 3 1, T h e V i c e - C h a n c e l o r u n d e r the U n i v e r» i t y Council R e s o l u t i o n d a t e d has ben g i v e n the p o w e r s to s u s p e n d from a t t e n d i n g c l a s s e s when he d e e m s n e c e s r y a s tudent, on the g r o u n d s of m i s c o n d u c t, i n d i s c i p l i n e o r m i s b e h a v i o r.

131 AIR 1980 Karn p 3 9, 4 1, Rana P r a r t a p v B a n a r a s H i n d u U n i v e r s i t y A I R 1960 All S a r v e s h N a r a y a n v A.M.U. A l i g a r h AIR 1982 SC RAna P r a t a p v V i c e - C h a n c e l lor AIR 1960 ALL H a b a n s S i n g h v P u n j a b U n i v e r s i t y A I R 1964 Punj 45B S a d h y R a m v P r i n c i p a l R a j e n d r a C o l l e g e AIR Bakshi PM. E d u c a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t i o n s and J u dicial C ontrol ILI 1987 p 52 BO. 5 j 5i24 of K a s h m i r and J a m m u U n i v e r s i t i e s Act 1969, reads as u n d e r t 'When it c o m e s to the n o t i c e of the Head of the U n i v e s i t y College, or Institution that a s t u d n e t of his D e p a r t m e n t, c o l l g e or I n s t i t u t i o n has c o m m i t ted a m i s c o n d u c t or b r e a c h of d i s c i p l i n e or m i s b e havior, he may and when a r e f e r e n c e is m a d e to the H e a d of the D e p a r t m e n t by the V i c e - C h a n c e l l o r, the H e a d of the D e p a r t m e n t shall c o n d u c t an e n q u i r y w i t h a l l e g a t i o n s of m i s c o n d u c t, i n d i s c i p l i n e and m i s b e h a v i o u r of the student. In c o n d u c t i n g the e n q u i r y he shall g i v e n o t i c e to the s t u d e n t in w r i t i n g of the c h a r g e s a g a i n s t him and g i v e him a r e a s o n a b l e o p p o r t u n i t y to d e f e n d himself. T h e Head of the D e p a r t m e n t, C o l l e g e or I n s t i t u t i o n shalal g i v e his f i n d i n g s a f t e r c o n s i d e r i n g the e n t i r e m a t e r i a l b e f o r e h i m '. 81. U n i v e r s i t y C o u n c i l R e s o l u t i o n d a t e d S u r e n d r a Pal v B o v e r f n m e n t Medical C o l l e g e AIR 1965 J&K A I R 1983 Ker R.C. T h a n p a n v M e d i c a l C o l l e g e C a l i c u t A I R 1979 Ker 171

132 85. Ram N a r a y a n S i n g h v B a n a r a s H i n d u U n i v e r s i t y AIR 1967 All AI R 1973 MP A I R 1966 A L U ALJ 324 (FB) 8 8. S a d h u R a m v P r i n c i p a l, R a j e n d r a C o l l e g e A I R 1954 pep Ram C h a n d r a R o y v U n i v e r s i t y of A l l a h a b a d AIR 1956 ALL 46i S u r i n d r a Pal T r i k h a v Principal, Sovt. Medical C o l l e g e AIR 1965 J&K Jain, S N i - Judicial Control Over E d u c a t i o n a l Institution ILI 1983 p A r t i c l e 14 of the C o n s t i t u t i o n reads as u n d e r 1 The s t a t e shall n o t d e n y to any person e q u i t y b e f o r e law o r the equal p r o t e c t i o n of laws w i t h i n the t e r r i t o r y of I n d i a '. 92. A r t i c l e 15 (1) T h e s t a t e shall not d i s c r i m i n a t e a g a i n s t any c i t i z e n on g r o u n d s o n l y of religion, race, caste, sex, of b i r t h or any other. place 15(4) N o t h i n g in this a r t i c l e or in c l a u s e (2) of the A r t i c l e 29 shall p r e v e n t the s t a t e from m a k i n g any s pecial provison for the a d v a n c e m e n t of any s o c i a l l y and e d u c a t i o n a l l y back w a r d c l a s s of c i t i z e n s or for S c h e d u l e d C a s t e s or S c h e d u l e d Tribes. 93. A m a l e n d u K u m a r v S t a t e A I R 1980 Pat Inder D e v v U n i v e r s i t y of R a j a s t h a n A I R 1981 Raj id at N i v e d i t a J a i n v S t a t e A I R 1981 M P A n a n d K u m a r v S t a t e A I R 1901 P a t AIR 19B1 S C

133 99. P.G.I M edical Education, A s s o. v Union of India AIR 1993 P&H AIR 1993 AP D. N e e l i m a v Dean, P. G. S t u d i e s A.P. Agri. U n i v e r s i t y A I R 1993 AP Dr. Uma Devi v P r i n c i p a l. K. Medical C o l l e g e A I R 1993 AP A. J. M. D ' S o u z a v G o a M edical C o l l e g e AIR 1981 G 14 Dr.Vimal Kumar v S t a t e of R a j a s t h a n AIR 1980 Raj K. R a m a k r i s h n a v D i r e c t o r of M edical S e r v i c e s A I R 1979 AP S t a t u t e s g o v e r n i n g the A d m i s s i o n to B.Ed c o u r s e t h r o u g h D i s tance E d u c a t i o n, U n i v e r s i t y of Kashmir, p r o v i d e that only t h o s e c a n d i d a t e s w h o are w o r k i n g as T e a c h e r s in G o v e r n m e n t or P r i v a t e S c h o o l s and h a v e 3 y e a r s T e a c h i n g e x p e r i e n c e can be a d m i t t e d to the Course. T h i s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n is based on the r a t i o n a l e that these c a n d i d a t e s o n c e e q u i p p e d w i t h t e a c h e r s t r aining, can render g r e a t e r s e r v i c e s in their r e s p e c t i v e school. T h i s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n is a b s o l u t e l y valid R e s e r v a t i o n of s u c h a c l a s s is so e x c e s s i v e, that it leaves very few s e a t s for the o p e n - m e r i t c a n d i d a t e s. T h i s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n will not be c o n s i d e r e d as just C h i t r a S i n g h v U n i o n of India A I R 1970 S C A I R P & H A I R C A I R 1992 S C J a r i w a l a, C.M. 'The L a w of E d u cation' XVIII ASIL In r e c e n t d i r e c t i o n H i g h C o u r t of J a m m u and K a s h m i r has d e c l e a r e d 2"/. r e s e r v a t i o n of s e a t s for w a r d s of U n i v e r s i t y e m p l o y e e s in a d m i s s i o n P o s t - g r a d u a t e c o u r s e s as v i o l a t i v e of A r t. 14, t h e r e f o r e void S t a t e of P u n j a b v B h a g v a t S i n g h A I R 1983 S C A I R 1970 J & K 45

134 114. A I R 1993 H & P 329 and a l s o in B u r d e e p S i n g h v S t a t e of J&K 1993 S C 1993 w h e r e M o i n t a i n e r i n g S p o r t s Quota was i n t r o d uced w i t h r e t r o s p e c t i v e effect M. S a t y a n a r a y a n a v S t a t e of K a r n a t k a AIR 1986 SC A I R 1971 S C M.R. B a l a j i v S t a t e of M y s o r e AIR 1963 S C J a g d i s h S a r a n v U n i o n of India AIR 1980 SC R a g h a v a v A d m i n i s t r a t o r, U n i o n T e r r i t o r y of L u k h e s h d e e p AIR 1982 Ker N i v e d i t a v T h e S t a t e 1981 MP 129* r e v e r s e d in The S t a t e v N i v e d i t a A I R 1981 SC A I R 1976 SC p To s a v e e f f e c t is s t a t e of Kerala v Krishna K u m a r i A I R 1976 Jer 54 and 8u b a s h C h a n d r a v S t a t e of M y s o r e AIR 1969 M y s A I R 1968 S C Jain S.N. J u d i c i a l Control of E d u c a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t i o n s - A S t u d y of ILI pub. p K. C. V a s a n t Kumar v S t a t e of K a r n a t a k a A I R 1985 SC S t a t e v R a f i a R a h i m A I R 1978 Ker S u b a s h C h a n d r a v S t a t e of M y s o r e A I R M y s S t a t e v M.P. S h y l a j a A I R 1982 Kant 40, A m r e s h K u m a r v B h a g a l p u r M edical C o llege, A I R pat 122, J a i n 8.N. J u d i c i a l C o n t r o l over E d u c a t i o n I n s t i t u t i o n - a S u r v e y in T r e n d s ILF pub p N. C h a n c h a l a v S t a t e of M y s A I R 1971 S C A I R 1976 A P 408. T h i s r u l e h a s been a p p l i e d in J a m m u and K a s h m i r too. The c a n d i d a t e s b e l o n g i n g to bad p o c k e t o r local areas, m a y have s h i f t e d t e m p o r a r i l y to c i t y for e d u c a t i o n p u rposes, are

135 229 g i v e n t h i s b e n e f i t f o r t h e a d m i s s i o n p u r p o s e s in a n d o t h e r P r o f e s s i o n a l C o l l e g e s. U n i v e s i t y E v e n t h e M i g r a n t s w h o a r e n o w r e s i d i n g o u t s i d e J & K f o r t h e p a s t 6 y e a r s, h a v e a l s o b e e n a l l o w e d to a v a i l t h e r e s e r v a t i o n u n d e r t h i s c a t e g o r y A I R S C A r t i v S t a t e of J«<K A I R S C A I R S C A I R S C Id A r t i v S t a t e o f J«<k A I R S C H e m L a t a T a l e s r a : D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n, B a c k w a r d c l a s s e s a n d N e w S o c i a l O r d e r U N N o v A 0 I U pub In S r i n a g a r C i t y, t h e r e is l a r g e p o p u l a t i o n of S w e e p e r s w h o a r e n o t r e c o g n i z e d a s S c h e d u l e d c a s t e s, b u t a r e b a c k w a r d, t h e e d u c a t i o n r a t e i s a l m o s t n i l a m o n g t h i s S h e i k h c o m m u n i t y. T h e D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m m e s t a r g e t e d to t h i s c o m m u n i t y c a n b e o f g r e a t h e l p t o t h e m A n a n t a P r a B a d N a y a k v U t k a l U n i v e r s i t y A I R r i s 3 a B a n e r j e e, P. C L a w o f E d u c a t i o n I n s t i t u t i o n s ( ) E d p A z r a S e e a m v J. P. S. O b e r o i A I R D e l A I R D e l T h e r u l e s o f a t t e n d a n c e p r o v i d e d f o r s t u d e n t s e n r o l l e d in D e p a r t m e n t o f D i s t a n c e E d u c a t i o n r e a d asi " N o c a n d i d a t e s h a l l b e e l i g i b l e t o a p p e a r in a p a r t i c u l a r e x a m i n a t i o n u n l e s s h e o r s h e h a s a t t e n d e d B 0 -/. o f toal l e c t u r e s d e l i v e r e d d u r i n g t h e c o n t a c t p r o g r a m m e S u p r a - N o t e N i l m a d h o b a v O r i s s a U n i v e r s i t y, O r i s s a A I R id p 21

136 N i l m a d b o b a v O r i s s a U n i v e r s i t y A I R O r i s s a 1 7, A I R M R O r d i n a n c e 6s w h i c h p r e s c r i b e s m i n i m u m a t t e n d n a c e r e q u i r e m e n t f o r e l i g i b i l i t y a n d c o n d o n a b l e l i m i t s of d e f i c i e n c y in a t t e n d a n c e a l l o w a b l e a t t h e d i s c r e t i o n o f t h e H e a d o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t a n d t h e V i c e - C h a n c e l l o r is n o t a p p l i c a b l e f o r MB P a r v e x A h m a d v A M U A l i g a r h A I R All IB 152. A I R Del A I R K a n t B a l k r i s h n a v R e w a U n i v e r s i t y A I R MP, p B B a k s h i P M E d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d J u d i c i a l C o n t r o l j A n a l y s i s t< G u i d e l i n e s ILI p V i j a y K u m a r v M e e r u t U n i v e r s e i t y A I R , C h a p XI o f t h e K a s h m i r St J a m m u U n i v e r s i t i e s A c t r e a d s ase 1) " p o s s e s s e s o r k e e p s a c c e s s a b l e in t h B e x a m i n a t i o n hall a n y p a p e r, n o t e b o o k o r m a t e r i a l c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e s u b j e c t of t h e e x a m i n a t i o n in w h i c h h e ib a p p e a r i n g. " ( 1 ) t o (13) d e a l w i t h t h e M i s c o n d u c t in t h e E x a m i n a t i o n hal S o n P a l G u p t a v A g r a U n i v e r s i t y A I R A l l R. K. S a h u v U t k a l U n i v e r s i t y A I R O r i s s a R a m C h a n d e r S i n g h v P u n j a b U n i v e r s i t y A I R P u n j J. P. S h a r m a v R o o r k e e U n i v e r s i t y, R o o r k e e A I R A L I S. N i l a k a n t a p p a v K a r n a t k a U n i v e r s i t y A I R M y L J A I R R a j 4 8

137 S t a t u t e 5 5 ( 1 ) t o (7) of t h e K a s h m i r & J a m m u U n i v e r s i t i e s Act, p r o v i d e s in d e t a i l t h e p r o c e d u r e f o r d i s q u a l i f y i n g a c a n d i d a t e f o r a p p e a r i n g o r p a s s i n g in a n y e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y. T h e c a n d i d a t e i s to b e i n f o r m e d in w r i t i n g sub. S e c t i o n (1), g r o u n d s of a c t i o n (2) a n d o p p o r t u n i t y of d e f e n c e is a l s o t o b e a l l o w e d u n d e r c l a u s e - 4 a n d u n d e r c l a u s e - 6, a f a i r h a r i n g i s a l s o t o b e a l l o w e d id p A I R M P id Y a d h i v a n d h a r S i n g h v P u n j a b U n i v e r s i t y A I R P & H R a m J R a m v K u l. S a c h i v A l l. U n i v e r s i t y A I R A l l R. K. S i n g h v U n i v e r s i t y of A l l a h a b a d A I R All S C S. K. G e o r g e v U n i v e r s i t y of K e r a l a A I R S C R a j e n d r a K u m a r v V. C V i k r a m U n i v e r s i t y A I R M P B o a r d of H i g h S c h o o l v G u n s h a m D A s A I R S C R. K u m a r v P u n j a b U n i v e r s i t y A I R P & H *< S. K a n t v K u r u k s h e t r a U n i v e r s i t y A I R P & H R a n a P r a t a p v B. H. U A I R A l l H a r b a n s S i n g h v P u n j a b U n i v e r s i t y A I R P u j B a k s h i, E d u c a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t i o n s & J u d i c i a l C o n t r o l, E d ILI P A I R K a n t B i h a r, S c h o o l E d u c a t i o n B o a r d v S. C h a n d e r A I R S C A I R P & H R e n u T i a g i v S t a t e A I R A l l A I R C a l T r i v b e n d r a l a l v Q u a h a t i U n i v e r s i t y A I R p A m l o k 8 i n g h v P u n j a b U n i v e r s i t y A I R H P 31 1B7. S. K. M e h r o t r a v B o a r d o f T e c h n i c a l E d u c a t i o n A I R A l l 2 0 7

138 232 IBB. V.C, J a m m u U n i v r s i t y v R. N a t h Bhat 1969 KLJ Dr. Arun B h a t t a c h a r j e e i M i s c o n d u c t of S t u d e n t s Ed. Deep & Deep Siba P r a s a d v D e b u g a r h U n i v e r s i t y AIR 1971 A&N B a k s h i B h S i n g h V Guru Nanak U n i v e r s i t y A I R p & H In D e p a r t m e n t of D i s t a n c e Education, the s t a t u t e * p r e s c r i b e 3 y e a r s as the limit in c l e a r i n g the e x a m i nation M y s o r e U n i v e r s i t y v B o p a l a Bowda AIR 1965 SC AI R 1977 Buj S e e m a S h a r m a v P u n j a b i Uny. P a t i a l a AIR 1993 P&H S a n d e e p S h a n a i v M a n g l o r e U n i v e r s i t y AIR 1992 Kant M u k h t i a r S i n g h v S t a t e A I R 1980 P&H AI R 1977 Ori P u n j a b U n i v e r s i t y v S u b b a s h C h a n d e r AIR 1984 SC M.C. K h e n d a l w a l v C h a irman, B.S.E. A I R 1983 Raj 16, Bakshi, P.M. E d u c a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t i o n s and Judicial C ontrol A n a l y s i s ft G u i d e l i n e s ILI 1987 P Lai it Taori v N a g p u r U n i v e r s i t y A I R 19B6 Bom A I R 1967 H. P The a m e n d e d p r o v i s i o n of H.P. U n i v e r s i t y read as under! A c a n d i d a t e w h o a p p l i e s for r e - e v a l u a t i o n shall not be e n t i t l e d to any r e t r o s p e c t i v e b e n e f i t such as a d m i s s i o n / p r o m o t i o n to any c o u r s e / c l a s s s i t in M edical C o l lege E n t r a n c e Test or g r a n t of s c h o l a r s h i p / M e d a l s etc etc; on the b a s i s of d e c l a r a t i o n of r e s u l t of r e - e v a l u a t i o n. " 206. S.P. S a h a v B i h a r A I R 1990 P a t R a s h m i B a l a S a x a n a v J i w a j i U n i v e r s i t y G w a l i o r A I R 1969 MP R a j i n d e r Kumar C N v U n i v e r s i t y of B o m b a y A I R 1991 B o m 126.