Pakistan’s Supreme Court has reaffirmed the autonomy of universities in setting their own admission policies. The decision comes after a series of appeals challenged high court rulings that intervened in university admissions criteria.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, writing for a three-judge bench, emphasized that universities have the right to manage their own affairs without undue external interference. Courts should only intervene if a university’s policies violate existing laws or their own admission prospectus.
The case centered on the qualification requirements for a Master’s degree in Engineering. A student holding a BTech (Hons) degree was denied admission because the university considered it not equivalent to the required BSc Engineering. The high court had previously ordered his admission, but the Supreme Court overturned this decision.
In another case, an applicant with a BTech degree was rejected for a job requiring a BSc Engineering degree. The high court upheld the rejection, and the Supreme Court again agreed.
The court clarified the distinction between BTech (Hons) and BSc Engineering degrees. While both may be considered equivalent for employment purposes, they are not considered the same for admissions.
The judgement cited a Higher Education Commission ruling that BTech (Hons) focuses on practical application and skills, while BSc Engineering emphasizes theoretical knowledge. Universities can set their own admission criteria based on these distinctions.
This decision reinforces the independence of universities in setting academic standards and ensuring qualified students are admitted to their programs
