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The Supreme Court held that Ph.D is mandatory for the post of Assistant Professor after 5.3.2010 as per the AICTE Regulations, upholding a Kerala High Court judgement.
A bench comprising of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Dinesh Maheshwari and Hrishikesh Roy dismissed the special leave petitions filed against a division bench judgment of the Kerala High Court wherein the High Court had disposed of a batch of twelve petitions filed by Assistant Professors apprehending reversion for lack of PhD degree.
"We are in agreement with the view that the notification dated 18.02.2003 granting seven years to acquire PhD. Degree for the right to hold the post of Associate Professors (re-designated as Assistant Professors) would come to an end in 2010 and thus persons who acquire the PhD. Degree on a subsequent date will only be eligible for consideration from the date when they acquire PhD. Degree", the Supreme Court held.