In Brief
A teacher was promoted to B.T. Assistant (English) in 2016 after obtaining a B.A. (English) degree through distance education (2012–2014). Before completing it, he began an M.A. (Tamil) programme (2013–2015), also through distance education. A competitor challenged the promotion under Rule 14, which bars those obtaining B.A./B.Sc./B.Ed. degrees in the same academic year. The High Court upheld the challenge and quashed the promotion. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, holding that Rule 14 applied only to degrees obtained in the same academic year. Since B.A. (English) and M.A. (Tamil) were completed in different periods, and M.A. is a postgraduate degree not covered by Rule 14, the promotion was valid and stands restored."
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