The University Grants Commission (UGC) has identified 256 universities that have not complied with the directive to appoint an ombudsperson, as mandated by the UGC (Redressal of Grievances of Students) Regulations, 2023. The guidelines stipulated that these universities were required to appoint an ombudsperson within 30 days of the April 12, 2023 notification. Despite multiple reminders, including one on December 5, 2023, urging compliance by the year’s end, these universities, including Jadavpur University and Anna University, failed to fulfill the requirement, according to an official statement.
Among the universities mentioned in the list are state institutions such as Delhi Teachers’ University, BR Ambedkar University in Delhi, Indira Gandhi Technical University for Women, Kerala’s APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and Tamil Nadu’s Anna University. The list also includes Meghalaya’s North Eastern Hill University, a central university.
Jadavpur University, which has faced scrutiny for recent cases of brutal ragging and a tragic incident involving the death of a 17-year-old student who was a victim of ragging and sexual abuse, is also listed by the UGC for not providing details of its ombudsperson. Additionally, renowned law schools like the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru and the Maharashtra National Law University in Mumbai, along with Nagpur, are among the universities on the UGC’s non-compliance list regarding ombudsperson details, the statement mentioned.
According to the guidelines, each university and its affiliated colleges are mandated to prominently display the particulars and contact information of the ombudsperson and the Students’ Grievance Redressal Committee (SGRC) on their websites and at noticeable locations on their campuses.