R.P. Reena vs The University of Kerala and Others

K. Vinod Chandran, J.—The petitioner is aggrieved with the refusal of the University to issue her a graduate degree in English.

The facts to be noticed for adjudication of the above dispute is that, the petitioner completed her Pre-Degree and took Sahithyacharya Certificate from the Kerala Hindi Prachar Sabha. The petitioner was entitled to apply for a graduate degree in Hindi on appearing for the Part I English paper alone. That is provided under Exhibit P3, by Clause I.c, which is extracted hereunder:

"I. Eligibility conditions and other informations:

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c. Candidates who have passed the Sahithyacharya Examination conducted by the Kerala Hindi Prachar Sabha and Pre-degree examination of Kerala University or any other examination recognised as equivalent thereto, by the University can register as Private candidates for B.A. (Hindi) Part I English in two sittings. Such candidates should have completed 3 years after passing the Pre-degree examination or an examination recognised as equivalent by the University, prior to the II Year BA Part I English Examination".

The petitioner obviously qualifies to apply for the BA Degree [Hindi], which could be granted on her passing Part I English alone. She appeared for the examinations on the basis of interim orders passed by this Court and passed in B.A. Degree [Hindi]. That definitely has to be regularised.

However, the next contention is that she again applied for Part III Optional Subject, English (Literature) as Main Subject for obtaining B.A. Degree in English also. She was granted permission to appear for the examination and seems to have passed the same, as evidenced by Exhibit P5. However, when approached, the University declined the grant of degree in English, citing that the Regulation mandates her qualifying in Part II Additional Language also.

The learned Standing Counsel for the University puts the issue in the proper perspective, by explaining that a student to obtain a graduate degree should pass Part I English, Part II Additional Language and Part III Main Subject. The petitioner having not qualified in the Additional Language, cannot be awarded a degree in English. The petitioner having qualified Sahithyacharya, she would be entitled to apply for B.A. (Hindi) on her qualifying in Part I English alone. The exemption in qualifying Part II, Additional Language, is only for the grant of a B.A. Degree in Hindi to those students who have passed Sahithyacharya. That would not apply to other subjects.

The petitioner''s contention is that, a person who has a graduate degree, can apply for other graduate degree in another language on the said person qualifying in the Part III Main Subjects. Based on the said regulation, the petitioner sought for appearing in the Part III Main in English Literature, she being desirous of having an additional graduate qualification in English.

Though she qualified in Part III examination, the University''s refusal was on account of the fact that the petitioner''s B.A. Degree in Hindi itself was on an exemption clause, which facilitated exemption from appearing in the Part II Additional Language. Only a candidate having a graduate qualification with Part I, Part II and Part III would be entitled to seek a further graduate qualification, in English Literature, on qualification of Part III Main Subjects alone. In such circumstances, the petitioner would have to appear for the Part II Additional Language examinations and qualify the same so as to seek for a graduate degree in English Literature. If the petitioner so applies and qualifies, the University shall consider issuance of B.A. Degree in English Literature.

The writ petition is disposed of as above. No costs.