HC pulls up UGC for failure to check deemed varsities

Seeks Action On Violation By Vinayaka Mission Univ

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:09.09.2018

Pulling up the University Grants Commission for failing to check irregularities committed by deemed universities, the Madras high court has directed the commission to take appropriate action against Vinayaka Mission University for making MPhil course available through distance education mode without necessary recognition.

Justice S M Subramaniam passed the order on a batch of pleas, including one moved by S Sivan — an MPhil holder from the university whose degree was declared invalid by the UGC. Sivan is a BT assistant employed by the state school education department. While on the job, in 2009, he completed his MPhil from Vinayaka Mission University and was receiving from the UGC incentive increment — granted to teachers for acquiring higher educational qualifications.

To his shock, on October 3, 2012, the school education department issued an order that incentive increments cannot be granted to holders of degrees that are not valid as per the University Grants Commission Act and its regulations.

Aggrieved, Sivan approached the court. The government submitted that the MPhil obtained by him is invalid and therefore, he is not entitled to any incentive increment. The UGC submitted that deemed universities declared under Section 3 of the UGC Act are not empowered to conduct distance education courses without the commission’s nod.

Recording the submissions, Justice Subramaniam said, “This court is of an opinion that incentive increment is a concession granted to teaching staff in school education department to encourage the morale of the teachers. Such being the special nature of concession, the same is to be regulated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the orders in force.”

It is up to the UGC to initiate appropriate action since students from poor economic backgrounds are exploited, the court said, adding in the event of serious irregularities, the UGC is competent to initiate action, even to cancel the status of the university.

Such actions, however, are rarely taken by the UGC for reasons not known to the court, the judge said. The university concerned must be held accountable by the UGC authorities, he added.

The UGC is competent to initiate action, even to cancel the status of the university. Such actions, however, are rarely taken by the UGC for reasons not known to the court, the judge said