High Court Directs Assam University To Consider Lateral Entry Of Candidates From B-Voc To B-Tech Courses As Per AICTE Guidelines

The Gauhati High Court has recently directed the Registrar of Assam University, Silchar to consider the admission of two students, who have passed the Bachelor of Vocation (B. Voc.) from the said University, in a course for B. Tech. (Lateral) in Agricultural Engineering as per the AICTE rules.

The single-judge bench of Justice N. Unni Krishnan Nair observed:

“In terms of the order dated 14.12.2023, wherein it has been stated that the University authority i.e. the AICTE has granted provision in 2022 for lateral entry of B. Voc degree holders for lateral entry into B. Tech courses…………….In view of the said development, the petitioners are directed to appear before the Registrar of Assam University on Wednesday with all relevant documents and the Registry shall thereafter consider the cases of the petitioners for admission.”

The petitioners passed the Bachelor of Vocation (B. Voc.) from the Assam University, Silchar. The University offered a course for B. Tech. (Lateral) in Agricultural Engineering and in terms of the prospectus, the petitioners had applied for the said course. However, after participation in the selection process, the result of the same had not been declared.

Therefore, the petitioners had earlier approached the High Court by way of a plea in which the Court had directed the Standing Counsel of Assam University to send a list of the selected candidates for admission into B. Tech. (Lateral). However, the University informed the Court that the candidatures of the petitioners were rejected and therefore, the present writ petition was filed by the petitioners.

Earlier, the Standing Counsel for the University submitted that though it had admitted to conducting an admission test for lateral entry, on verification it came to light that there was no statutory provision for lateral entry of B. Voc. Graduates to B. Tech. Courses and the AICTE norms only permit limited courses for lateral entry into B. Tech, and B. Voc. was not one among those courses.

Thus, the Court had denied the interim prayer for the grant of provisional admission to the petitioners.

However, on December 18, 2023, it was submitted before the Court that AICTE in its circular dated March 7, 2022, had granted provision for lateral entry of B. Voc degree holders for into B. Tech courses.

Thus, the Court directed the petitioners to appear before the Registrar of Assam University and the Registrar to consider the cases of the petitioners for admission.

In the latest development, the Registrar of the Assam University vide order dated January 2, 2024, allowed the admission of the petitioners in the course for B. Tech. (Lateral) in Agricultural Engineering.

Advocates for the petitioners - A.R. Bhuyan & N.A. Mazarbhuiya

Advocate for Assam University- Advocate S. C. Keyal

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Gau) 4

Case Title: Tulsi Dutta Choudhury & Anr. v. The Union of India & Ors.

Case No.: WP(C)/5727/2023