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3. The party respondents/applicants before the Tribunal were graduates in BSc Optometry Course from the Universities recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The PSC issued a communication dated 22.12.2020 to the applicants requiring them to upload the TC/Course Certificate from the institutions in which they underwent the BSc Optometry course within five days and also to get the same verified from the local office of the PSC. It further stipulated that in case the BSc Optometry Course was undertaken under the Distance Education Scheme, then the Government Order enabling the acceptability/equivalence of the course was also to be produced. The PSC thereafter finding that the documents requested for by them were not produced, rejected the applications on three grounds namely that the documents sought for OP(KAT)Nos. 77, 59,64 & 212 of 2022 by them were not produced, the internship of the BSc Optometry Course was not completed before the last date of the application and thirdly the BSc Optometry Course undergone under the Open/Distance Education Course was not acceptable and consequently rejected the applications of those included in the ranked list for selection. The orders of rejection were challenged before the Tribunal by the applicants contending that they had the requisite qualification of BSc Optometry which is a higher/superior qualification to that of Diploma in Ophthalmic Assistant Course.

1. BSc Optometry of Bharatiar University
2. BSc Optometry of Alagappa University
3. BSc (Hons) in Optometry and Ophthalmic Techniques of IGNOU
4. Diploma in Ophthalmic Assistants Courses conducted by the Medical Colleges in Kerala On detailed scrutiny, the committee has the opinion that the BSc Optometry courses of Alagappa and Bharatiar University are higher degree as compared to BSc (Hons) in Optometry and Ophthalmic Techniques of IGNOU and Diploma in Ophthalmic Assistants courses conducted by the Medical Colleges in Kerala The reasons are:
1. The BSc Optometry courses of Alagappa and Bharatiar University have a Specified duration and internship (3 years and 1 year)
2. Vaster syllabus with more subjects, depth in subjects, more papers and newer subjects etc., Eg: BSc Optometry of Bharatiar University have 29 theory and 10 practicals and BSc Optometry of Alagappa university 31 theory and 17 OP(KAT)Nos. 77, 59,64 & 212 of 2022 practicals compared to the courses to BSc (Hons) in Optometry and Ophthalmic Techniques of INGOU which have 14 Theory and 14 Practicals and Diploma in Ophthalmic Assistants courses conducted by the Medical Colleges in Kerala which have 4 theory and 2 practicals.
5. The teaching learning methodology for BSc Optometry course of Alagappa and Bharatiar University is classroom/Hospital based/ Clinical based/ practical lab based whereas in BSc (Hons) Optometry and Ophthalmic Techniques of IGNOU is tele communication/Occational contact/Online/distance mode and non-continuous i.e. the student can appears in final paper in the final year without studying basics.
6.BSc Optometry courses of Alagappa and Bharatiar university have project work and Viva, whereas the BSc (Hons) in Optometry and ophthalmic Techniques of IGNOU / Diploma in Ophthalmic Assistants course have only assignments