Last Updated on February 20, 2024 by News Desk
The Rajasthan High Court, in the case of IASE vs. Union of India, has ruled that certain notices and guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Distance Education Council (DEC) restrained deemed universities from setting up off-campus centres and imparting education through distance mode.
The court, led by Justice Arun Monga, heard pleas from the Institute of Advanced Studies in Education (IASE) and Janardan Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidyapeeth (JRN) seeking recognition of various courses, degrees, and diplomas awarded by these ‘deemed universities’ through distance mode.
The court also asked both institutions to refund fees to students enrolled in courses, off-campus study centres, and distance education without UGC’s approval.
The Indian Supreme Court (UGC) has criticised the UGC for its lack of regulatory responsibilities in ensuring higher education standards in India. The court noted that the absence of rigorous inspections and failure to check facilities at study centres contributed to the suspension or annulment of engineering degrees from 2001–2005.
The court also highlighted the need for reform in the context of off-campus private educational facilities and the prohibition against deemed universities conducting distance courses as per the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2010.
Both Indian universities, including JRN Deemed University, have continued their operations despite statutory impediments, including the revokement of ex-post facto approval for distance education study centres by the UGC and DEC.
The court emphasized that the challenge is the distance education offered by the deemed university, not its continuation of its status as a deemed university.
