SC puts HEC, Jinnah University on notice over denial of degrees to students

The Supreme Court (SC) has directed the chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the registrar of the Jinnah University for Women over an application of students against the denial of BA degrees by the university’s administration.

The applicants, including Maham Khan, submitted that they were students of the Jinnah University for Women and had completed four semesters’ studies, which were equivalent to the BA (pass) degree.

They alleged that the university administration was declining to award them the degree though they had completed our four semesters’ studies and they had been given the mark sheets.

The students said their mark sheets confirmed that they had qualified for the BA (pass) degree in mass communications, and their score was more than 2.2 GPA, the minimum required criteria fixed by the university.

They alleged that university administration officials, especially the vice chancellor and the registrar, were pressurising them to continue to study and complete a master’s programme, and only then would they be awarded the bachelor’s Degree. They said this was an unjust, unfair and illegal act on the part of the university.

They students said the denial of the degree was “beyond the approach of prudent mind” and the administration of the university was violating its parent act called Jinnah University for Women Act, 1998, particularly the provision of Section 5 (ii) of the act and its own code.

According to the complainants, the university’s Rule 26 mentions that a student registered for a three-year BA/BSc (Hons) degree or a four- year BS degree shall be able to get his/her degree converted into BA/BSc pass degree after the successful completion of all courses in the first and second years. Alternatively, a student of a four years’ programme shall be able to get their degree converted into a BA/BSc/BCom honours degree after the successful completion of all courses of the first, second and third years.

They requested the court to direct the Jinnah University for Women to issue BA and BSc degrees to all students who had passed the requisite four semesters and their score was more than 2.2 GPA, the minimum required criteria fixed by the university, in the larger interest of justice and equity. Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took notice of the application and directed the HEC chairman and the varsity’s registrar to file their comments on March 29.