NHRC granted relief to students who were denied degree even after 4 years of completion of course

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC): While observing that denial of degrees to students even after passing the course by Dr. Hari Singh Gaur Central University amounted to the violation of the human rights of the students, NHRC ensured that the students got their degree without any further delay. Total 32 students, including the 9 students who had lodged the complaint in the matter before NHRC, completed their course in 2011 from the Christian Medical and Training Centre, School and College of Nursing, Damoh, affiliated with Dr. Hari Singh Gaur Central University. Provisional degree was issued to them but it was valid only for six months. While pointing out  that  as per Para 4.4 of the UGC (Grant for Degree and other Awards by Universities) Regulation, 2008, degrees should be awarded within 180 days of the date by which the students become eligible, students approached NHRC and alleged that due to the unavailability of the degrees they suffered mental agony, monetary loss and career loss. After perusal of the documents and hearing the parties, NHRC rejected the contention of University Authorities justifying the delay and observed that the delay in giving the degrees resulted in denial of their fundamental rights under Article 19 (1)(g) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to practice a profession or to carry on any occupation and also their fundamental right to life (which includes the right to livelihood) guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution. Apart from ensuring the award of degrees to the students, Commission also asked the University to pay Rs. 1 lakh each to the nine complainants, who had approached the commission for relief. (Source: nhrc.nic.in, Dated: June 22, 2015)