The Delhi High Court has issued an order directing the University Grant Commission (UGC) to take necessary actions against universities and colleges offering unspecified degrees. Such institutions may face penalties under Section 24 of the UGC Act, 1956. The Court emphasised that the UGC publishes specific degrees on its website to ensure that all universities, colleges and enrolled students are aware of recognised degree programmes. This helps maintain uniform educational standards, according to an official statement.
The order was issued in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting UGC’s inaction concerning universities, institutions and colleges offering unspecified courses. The petitioner, Rahul Mahajan, sought UGC’s direction to ensure compliance with a July 5, 2014 notification and related notifications, aiming to standardise degree nomenclature. Additionally, the plea requested UGC to regularly publish a consolidated list of specified degrees before each academic session, the statement mentioned.
Vikram Singh Kushwaha, advocate, who is representing the petitioner, argued that due to lapses and inconsistencies in UGC’s rules and regulations, students receive degrees unrecognised by the UGC. This situation wastes students’ time, money, and effort, jeopardising their future. Counsel for the petitioner contended that denying students specified degrees infringes upon their fundamental right under article 21 of the Indian constitution, it added.
The Delhi High Court observed that UGC has issued multiple letters to universities to ensure compliance with the UGC Act’s degree specification provisions. Therefore, the court concluded that UGC is taking necessary steps to enforce compliance with the UGC Act, 1956, in relation to degree specifications. Consequently, no further orders were required in the current writ petition. However, the Court directed UGC to continue taking appropriate actions to ensure compliance with the UGC Act, 1956, as per the statement.
With inputs from ANI.