Karunya Univ to shut off-campus centres

tnn | Nov 19, 2017, 00:33 IST

Coimbatore: Karunya University had lost the deemed university status in 2007, a letter from the University Grants Commission (UGC) shows. The university also does not have permission to expand, thus leaving the future of nearly 700 students at its off-campus centres at Lakshmi Mills and Periyanaickenpalayam at stake.

Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, the erstwhile name of the varsity, was granted 'deemed to be university' status in 2004. The UGC had granted the status for three years. However, it had not renewed the status. This does not allow the university to start new courses from 2007.

TOI is in possession of the letter dated October 10, sent by the under secretary of UGC Kundla Mahajan. The letter states, "Institutions deemed to be universities placed under category 'B' by Tandon committee, including Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Karunya Nagar, Coimbatore, cannot expand their activities at present. This expansion includes starting of new centres new departments, new courses, off-campuses etc." "Such expansion can be permitted only after the review exercise presently conducted by the UGC is over and continuation of deemed to be university status is agreed by the UGC expert committee."

The UGC expert committee had visited the university on November 7, 8 and 9. UGC has directed the university to discontinue the centres and courses started without the approval of UGC. "Degrees awarded by the deemed to be university to the students in such centres and courses will not be treated as valid by the IGC for the purpose of higher studies and employment," the letter stated.

Sources in the university said that it has decided to close down the centres at Lakshmi Mills and Periyanaickenpalayam. TOI has also learnt that the university has filed an affidavit in the Madras high court agreeing to close down the centres. "They will soon be submitting their answer on what they intend to do with the nearly 700 students studying in these campuses," a source said.

Arts and science courses conducted at Lakshmi Mills and Periyanaickenpalayam are not offered at Karunya Nagar campus. The only option is to shift the students to Tamil Nadu government-run colleges or universities.

Top Commentif Karunya university is not a deemed university, why is that it is listed in the UGC website as a "Deemed UniversitySunder Singh

The UGC has asked to submit a compliance report in respect with details within one month of the receipt of the letter.

The university vice-chancellor and registrar were not reachable for comment.