UGC warns deemed universities on fake degrees

CHENNAI: Taking a serious view of some deemed universities awarding degrees by offering unapproved academic courses to students, the University

Grants Commission has warned that severe punitive action would be initiated against such institutions including recommending withdrawal of the deemed university status. It has also sought a legal undertaking from vice chancellors of deemed universities to the effect that their institutions are not violating norms. In a recent letter addressed to the vice chancellors of 127 deemed universities in the country, UGC joint secretary K P Singh, has pointedly said that "the deemed to be universities being unitary institutions are not allowed to affiliate any colleges or institutions. Degrees awarded through such colleges or institutions against the UGC guidelines will be treated as fake." The apex higher education regulatory body has also said that the deemed universities should not under any circumstances conduct any course under distance mode without the specific prior approval of a joint committee of the UGC, All India Council for Technical Education and the Distance Education Council. "The degrees awarded without such approval will be treated as unauthorised and invalid. Study centres established and maintained by the deemed universities are only for the purpose of advising, counselling or for rendering any other assistance required by the students used in the context of distance education and no student shall be admitted at these centres," Singh said in his letter.