The Delhi High Court, in its recent order, has issued a directive to the University Grants Commission (UGC) to take decisive actions against universities and colleges that are offering unspecified degrees. According to the court, these universities and colleges are subject to penalties under Section 24 of the UGC Act, 1956.
The court emphasized that the UGC regularly specifies the degrees that are approved, and these specifications are made available on their website. The primary aim of this practice is to ensure that all universities and colleges, as well as the students enrolling in them, adhere to recognized degree programs. Degrees obtained from unspecified courses would be deemed unrecognized by the UGC, thereby maintaining consistency and quality in education standards.
The bench, comprising Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula, ordered the UGC to take the necessary steps to ensure strict compliance with the provisions outlined in the UGC Act, 1956. This decision stems from a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that highlighted the University Grants Commission’s inaction in addressing the issue of universities, institutions, and colleges offering unspecified courses.
In the petitioner’s case, Rahul Mahajan, the plea has been filed to compel the University Grants Commission (UGC) to enforce compliance among all universities, deemed-to-be universities, colleges, and institutes with a notification issued on July 5, 2014, by the UGC, as well as connected notifications. The primary goal is to ensure uniformity in degree nomenclature.
Furthermore, the plea also seeks a directive from the UGC to ensure the widespread dissemination of a consolidated list of specified degrees at least twice a year, prior to the commencement of each academic session.
Advocate Vikram Singh Kushwaha, representing the petitioner, argued that the existing lapses and inconsistencies within the laws, rules, and regulations of the UGC, coupled with the lack of accountability on the part of the respondents, result in students obtaining degrees that lack recognition by the UGC. This situation puts students in a predicament where they invest their time, money, and effort in pursuing a future that ultimately remains uncertain and elusive.
The petitioner’s counsel strongly argued that students who are granted degrees not specified in the Notification are essentially being denied their fundamental rights as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which safeguards the right to life and personal liberty.
In response, the University Grants Commission (UGC) submitted an affidavit stating that it had previously communicated with the Vice Chancellors of all universities, urging them to strictly adhere to the prescribed nomenclature of degrees as outlined in the notification dated 05.07.2014. The UGC further emphasized in its communication that its regulations and notifications carry the statutory and mandatory weight of law, binding all universities to comply.
The Delhi High Court, in its judgment, acknowledged that the UGC has taken proactive steps by issuing several letters to universities, emphasizing the importance of complying with the provisions of the UGC Act concerning the specification of degrees. Consequently, it can be observed that the UGC is making diligent efforts to ensure the strict adherence of universities to the UGC Act, 1956, particularly in matters related to degree specifications.
Given the circumstances outlined above, the Delhi High Court has determined that no specific order needs to be issued in the present writ petition. Nonetheless, the court has directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) to undertake the necessary and appropriate actions to guarantee strict compliance with the provisions enshrined in the UGC Act, 1956. This directive reinforces the court’s commitment to maintaining the integrity and standards of education in accordance with the law.
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