The University Grants Commission (UGC) is heavily cracking down on fake universities that are running in contravention to UGC Act of 1956. The cases of fake universities operating in the country have come to UGC’s notice through public or students’ complaints, from the references of states, Union Territories (UTs) and even the local authorities. Post identifying the institutions that are operating as fake universities, the UGC issues showcase notices to such self-styled institutions.
In this regard, the higher education regulator has also issued public notices on its website cautioning the parents to be mindful about such universities while searching for admission avenues for their children after class XII. Currently, 21 fake universities or institutions are in the list of fake universities maintained by UGC. Out of these 21 fake universities, seven are located in Delhi, one in Karnataka, one in Kerala, one in Maharashtra, two in West Bengal, four in UP, two in Odisha, one in Puducherry and one in Andhra Pradesh.
Speaking to Education Times, Rajnish Jain, secretary, UGC, says, “The cases relating to fake universities come to our notice through the receipt of complaint by public or students, reference from states, Union Territories (UT) and local authorities. A recognised university as per the law is one that satisfies the Section 2(f) of UGC Act, 1956. As per this Act, a university needs to have been established under a Central or a State Act including any other institution.
The university must be recognised by UGC in accordance with the section 22 of the UGC Act, 1956. Many instances of fake universities operating in the country have come to our notice. After such cases come to our cognisance, we issue show cause notices to such self-styled institutions and also write to the Principal Secretaries and Education Secretaries of the states and UTs requesting them to take action against them.”
“If such self-styled institutions don’t satisfactorily comply, we include their name in the list of fake universities. Currently, 21 universities or institutions are there in the list of fake universities. In addition to this, the Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM), New Delhi is also not recognised by us as per the Section 2(f) and Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.
Recently, we have issued public notices on our website cautioning the general public, students, parents and other stakeholders to not take admission in the following self-styled institutions like the All India Institute of Public & Physical Health Sciences (AIIPPHS), a State Government University in Delhi and the Digital University of Skill Resurgence in Maharashtra’s Wardha district,” informs Jain.
“An Anti Mal Practice Cell (AMPC) is in existence which has been functioning since May 30, 1996. The objective of the AMPC is to curb the menace of fake universities and degrees. The cell is dealing with all the matters relating to the existence and functioning of fake or non-recognised universities that are running in contravention of the UGC Act, 1956.
AMPC liaisons with different agencies of the central and state governments to check the menace of fake and non-recognised institutions. In this regard, it also requests the states or union territories and local authorities to take action against such institutions for violating the UGC Act, 1956 and other penal laws,” adds Jain.
Pankaj Mittal, secretary-general, Association of Indian Universities (AIU), says, “As per the section 23 of UGC, any institution which is not established by the State or Central Act or is not a deemed to be university or institute of national importance, can be termed as fake university. If such institutions use the word, ‘university’, in their nomenclature, it tantamount to being illegal. The degrees they give to the students without being a university, stands no value. Generally we get to know about a fake universities through UGC."
Credit- Times of India
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