In Brief
This judgment addresses the validity of engineering degrees awarded by certain Deemed Universities through distance education mode without approval from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). The Supreme Court held that Deemed Universities not conferred status for engineering excellence cannot introduce engineering courses through distance education without AICTE approval, unlike State-established Universities. The Court found that the Distance Education Council lacked competence to grant standalone permission for technical distance education. Ex-post-facto approvals granted without inspection and in violation of policy were deemed void. Degrees awarded to students enrolled 2001–2005 stand suspended pending AICTE-conducted tests; those enrolled after 2005 are cancelled with full refunds mandated. The Court directed CBI investigation into officials' conduct and asked UGC to consider withdrawing Deemed University status from four institutions.
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