Dreams of thousands of students to get a government job after completing a distance learning course from the Madras University might be shattered.

The staff selection commission says their degree isn’t eligible. A letter sent by the commission says, “For purpose of Employment in Central Government the degrees obtained through distance mode of education should also have the approval of the Distance Education Council. As per our records, such approval for the Madras University is available only for a period of one year in 2007 to 2008.”