Delhi High Court to UGC: Take action against varsities for unspecified degrees

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court, in its order, has asked the University Grant Commission (UGC) to take appropriate and necessary actions against the universities and colleges offering unspecified degrees, and such universities are liable for penalties under Section 24 of the UGC Act, 1956.

The Court said the purpose of providing specifications of degrees approved by the UGC from time to time, which are published on the website by the UGC, is to ensure for all universities and colleges and the students enrolling in such colleges and universities that the degrees of students studying unspecified degree courses would render such unspecified degrees unrecognised by the UGC. It is done to maintain uniformity in the standards of education.

However, UGC is directed to take appropriate and necessary actions to ensure compliance with the provisions of the UGC Act, 1956, said the Bench of Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula in an order on a public interest litigation highlighting the inaction of the University Grants Commission with respect to universities, institutions, and colleges providing unspecified courses.

Petitioner Rahul Mahajan, through his plea, sought direction from the UGC to ensure compliance by all universities and deemed-to-be universities, colleges, and institutes, with a notification dated July 5, 2014, issued by the UGC and connected notifications to ensure uniformity in degree nomenclature.

The plea also sought direction from UGC to ensure the wide publication of a consolidated list of specified degrees at least twice a year, prior to the commencement of each academic session.

Advocate Vikram Singh Kushwaha appealed for the petitioner and contended that due to the lapses and inconsistencies in the laws, rules, and regulations of the UGC and the lack of accountability of the respondents, students are conferred with degrees that are not recognised by the UGC. This creates a situation wherein students are led to waste their time, money, and effort for a future that does not exist.

Counsel for the petitioner contended that students who are conferred with degrees that are not specified in the notification are being denied their fundamental rights enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

UGC, in its affidavit, stated that it had earlier requested the vice chancellors of all the universities to adhere to the nomenclature of degrees specified by the provision of the notification dated July 5, 2014. It was also clarified by the UGC in the above-stated letter to all the universities that UGC regulations and notifications are statutorily and mandatorily to be followed by all the universities, and they have the force of law.

Delhi HC, while passing judgement, noted that the UGC has issued various letters to all the universities to ensure that they comply with the provisions of the UGC Act with regard to the specification of degrees. It may, therefore, be seen that UGC is taking all necessary measures to ensure strict compliance with the UGC Act, 1956, with regard to the specification of degrees.

In view of the above, no order is required to be passed in the present writ petition. However, UGC is directed to take appropriate and necessary actions to ensure compliance with the provisions of the UGC Act, 1956, said the Delhi High Court. (ANI)

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