IGNOU, DU at loggerheads over distance education courses in HC

IGNOU and Delhi University are fighting a legal battle for one upmanship in the Delhi HC as the former maintained that all distance education courses came under its regulation while the latter refused to accept it contending that its programmes were run independently.

IGNOU and Delhi University are fighting a legal battle for one upmanship in the Delhi High Court as the former maintained that all distance education courses came under its regulation while the latter refused to accept it contending that its programmes were run independently.

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"We (DU) have been running the distance education programmes since 1962 after Parliament passed the legislation. IGNOU was established much later and the Distance Education Council (DEC) was set up in 1992 which is a subordinate authority," advocate Arvind Nigam, appearing for Delhi University said.

The DU's contention came on a petition seeking directions to the Centre, IGNOU and Staff Selection Commission (SSC) to recognise its degrees awarded through the distance education programmes.

The SSC had refused to issue appointment letters to over 50 students of the DU's School of Open Learning (SOL), saying the institute was not affiliated to the DEC as per the notification issued by the government of India.

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), however, argued that it has also been established by Parliament for imparting distance education and regulating it through DEC which cannot be said to be a subordinate authority.

Justice S Ravindra Bhat, after hearing both the Universities, issued notice to the Centre, SSC and IGNOU, seeking their response on the DU's plea.