In Brief
The State of Andhra Pradesh challenged a High Court judgment directing it to consider a candidate (Respondent) for appointment as Language Pandit (Telugu). The Respondent held a Bachelor of Arts in Telugu literature from Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University and B.Ed. with Telugu methodology. The State argued he lacked the required qualification of a Bachelor's degree with Telugu as main subject. The Supreme Court held that when the Government had previously recognised Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University degrees as equivalent for recruitment (DSC-2003), there was no basis to deny the Respondent's eligibility. The Court affirmed the High Court's judgment and dismissed the appeal, holding that UGC-recognised degrees cannot be treated as unequal without express statutory disqualification.
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