22. I am in agreement with the view taken by a
Division Bench of Kerala High Court in case of Anand
J. Illickan (supra), wherein, the status and role of the
A.I.U., in the matter of its authority to declare
equivalence of PostGraduate Diploma with Post-
Graduate Degree, has been elaborately dealt. I have
no hesitation in recording my conclusion that
requirement of declaration by A.I.U., for the purpose of
equivalence of P.G. Diploma qualification with P.G.
Degree, is statutory in character, since the said
requirement has been incorporated in the statutory
Regulation framed in exercise of power under Section
26 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.
Consequently, the P.G. Diploma (P.M.I.R.)
qualification of the petitioner cannot be held to be
equivalent to P.G. Degree."