Issue provisional degree certificate to medical student: HC

DELAYED CONVOCATION

Issue provisional degree certificate to medical student: HC

Vasanth.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:08.11.2020

Because of the ‘conspiracy of circumstances’ such as the Covid-19 pandemic, it has become difficult to maintain the regularity and periodicity of convocation ceremonies. Universities have to devise viable alternatives to mitigate the likely hardships their students/alumni are put to.

The high court made this observation while coming to the rescue of Lanson Brijesh Colaco, a medical student from Kurunji Venkataramana Gowda Medical College and Hospital, Sullia, Dakshina Kannada.

“Aggrieved students can’t be asked to wait in silence for an indefinite period since it will have many repercussions like time bar for admission to a course, non-compliance of conditions of recruitment and age bar for employment,” Justice Krishna S Dixit pointed out.

The judge directed Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) to issue a provisional degree certificate for MBBS to the petitioner within two weeks. It must contain a specific certification that it should be treated on a par with the awarding of degree, for all practical purposes. In his petition, Lanson had claimed there’s a delay in awarding degree certificates as the RGUHS convocation is being deferred, and the same is affecting his study as well as employment prospects.

During the hearing, the panel advocate for RGUHS informed the court there’s a provision in the statute of the health university for providing graduates a provisional degree certificate, followed by awarding of degree in the convocation. He added a specific text will be introduced in the certificate or by way of an annexure to the effect that it should be treated on a par with awarding of degree.

The court expressed hope that university authorities, when requested by students/ alumni like the petitioner, address appropriate communication to other varsities/employers for easing difficulties.

If RGUHS fails to comply within two weeks, it will have to pay Rs 5,000 per week as cost to the petitioner, which should be recovered from the erring officers, the judge said