FAKE UNIVERSITIES IN INDIA(UNIVERSITY LEM)

FAKE UNIVERSITIES IN INDIA

University Grant Commission has identified 18 Fake Universities in India. It is easy to compare between these fake universities and the East Georgia University, from where Mamata Banerjee has got the doctoral degree. We don't know exactly that 18 fake universities in India have given how many. Graduation, Post Graduation and doctoral degree to the individual like Mamata Banerjee in our country and abroad. Parliamentary consultative committee of Human Resource Development met on April 6 and had a detail discussion on Fake University case. Consultative Committee has strongly urged the govt. to take firm measures against these take institutions. Govt. was asked to enquire into the possible connection with foreign countries and the fake university on the request of UGC, the concerned State Govts. are enquiring into the status of Fake Institutions.

1. Mithily Vishwavidyalaya/University, Darbhanga, Bihar:

On a request from the UGC the State Government has reffered the case to the CID. The Commission is also defending the case in the Court of Munsif.

2. Mahila Gram Vidyapith/Vishwavidyalaya (Women's University), Prayag, Allahabad :

The Court has granted a stay in favour of this university. The action to get the stay vacated has been initiated by UGC.

3. Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi, U.P. :

The status of this fake university is subjudice and final order of the Court is awaited.

4. Commercial University Ltd., Darya Ganj, Delhi :

Conviction was secured in this case. The order of the Additional Session Judge was upheld by the High Court also. However, the University continues to operate.

5. Indian Educational Council of U.P., Lucknow :

Government of Uttar Pradesh have registered a case against this fake university.

6. Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith, Prayag, Allahabad :

Exact whereabouts of this fake institution is not known.

7. National University of Electro Complex Homeopathy , Kanpur :

The institution filed a Writ Petition in the Supreme Court and the case is pending .

8. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose University, Aligarh:

The Registrar of Firms and Societies, Agra, has cancelled the registration in respect of this institution.

9. D.D.B. Sanskrit University, Trichi :

The Government of Tamil Nadu has been requested to take necessary action and legal recourse to stop the functioning of this University.

10. St. John's University, Kishanattam, Kerala :

UGC is collecting details about this institution.

11. National University, Nagpur :

Police investigation has not been able to trace the University. The State Government, however, has been asked to reinvestigate.

12. United Nations University, Delhi:

Details are being collected by the UGC

13. Vocational University, Delhi

UGC has requested Monopolies and Restricted Trade Practices Commission (MRTPC) to take action but the postal address of the university is not correctly available. The UGC is looking into this.

14. Mahila Gram Vidyapith/Vishwavidyalaya (Women's University), Prayag, Allahabad:

The matter is pending in the Court of Senior Sub-Judge, Delhi.

15. Maharana Pratap Shiksha Niketan Vishwavidyalaya, Pratapgrah, U.P.:

The case is pending in the District Court. The UGC is contesting the case.

16. Raja Arabic University, Nagpur :

The UGC has requested the Government of Maharashtra to provide full details about the University.

17. Urdu University, Motia Park, Bhopal:

The UGC has requested to Government of Madhya Pradesh to take action against this University.

18. Bhartia Shiksha Parishad, U.P. Open Vishwavidyalaya, Lucknow:

The Court has restrained the UGC from calling, declaring or otherwise treating the Bhartia Shiksha Parishad as fake university pending final decisions in the suit.  

According to Section 22 of the UGC Act 1956, the right of conferring or granting degrees can be exercised only by a university established or incorporated by or under a Central Act., or a State Act or an institution deemed to be a university under Section 3 of UGC Act., 1956 or an institution specially empowered by an Act of Parliament to confer or grant degrees.

Thus, any institution which has not been created by an Act of Parliament or a State Legislature or has not been granted the status of a deemed university, cannot award degree.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE:

The committee made the following recommendations to check the menace of fake universities and degrees;

1. Preparation of comprehensive list of fake universities/institutions by UGC or the Department of Education and its publication for the information of the general public.
2. Creation of a self-working system within UGC to act as vigilance machinery/cell and also to monitor the activities of such institutions.
3. There should be some mechanism or machinery to find out the existence of fake universities.
4. Creation of a separate cell in UGC to follow-up in courts of law with the State Governments and provision of additional funds to UGC for this purpose.
5. UGC and Department of Education should take up the matter regarding publication of advertisement by fake universities with the Press Council of India and Editor's Guild etc. to finalize the modalities for exercising restraint by newspapers on the publication of such advertisement.
6. A separate Schedule may be annexed to the Act mentioning the words university, Vishwavidyalaya, Vidyapeeth and such other words as may be used in other regional languages so as to cover them under the definition of "University" as contained in Section 2(f) of the Act.
7. Inclusion of a suitable provision in the UGC Act for closure of fake universities and for confiscation of their property and assets and seizure of documents such as Registration papers; accounts; papers relating to acquisition of the movable property and assets etc., at the time of closure.
8. Dropping of proviso to Section 24 of the pending UGC (Amendment) Bill 1995 which enables Courts to exercise their discretion to reduce minimum punishment provided for.
9. Inclusion of a provision in the UGC Act specifying that UGC would be competent authority to initiate legal proceedings against the offending institution(s) / person(s).

 ACTION TAKEN BY UGC AND GOVERNMENT:

The UGC has taken initiatives and measures on the lines recommended by the Parliamentary Committee to curb the functioning of illegally established universities and fake institutions. Some of the measures are listed as under:

1. The UGC has set up a Special Cell to deal with the matters relating to the existence/functioning of fake universities in the country, which collect information through print media and disseminates information about them.
2. The UGC has prepared a list of such 18 universities. Action taken by UGC against these fake universities is annexed.
3. UGC issues Press releases at the beginning of each academic session to caution the students etc.
4. UGC has filed court cases against several fake universities and in some cases such universities have gone to the Court.
5. The Minister of Human Resource Development has requested the Chief Ministers on 1^st September, 1998 of all State Governments to keep a strict vigil and prosecute such institution for violating the UGC Act., 1956 and other penal laws.
6. The Ministry constituted a Task Force to suggest amendments in the UGC Act in view of the recommendations of the Standing Committee and the proposal of the UGC.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TASK FORCE:

The Task Force has completed its work and has suggested the following recommendations to incorporate in the UGC (Amendment) Bill:

1. The penalty for the contravention of the provision of Section 22 or Section 23 of the UGC Act should be enhanced to imprisonment for term which shall not be less than one year and will be extendable to three years, and also fine not less than one lakh rupees but may exceed to ten lakh rupees.
2. If the person contravening the provisions of the Act is an Association or a body of individuals, every member of such Association or body who knowingly or wilfully authorize or permit such a contravention shall be punished in the manner as indicated above.
3. Anyone who is in any way connected with such an enterprise or is a beneficiary in any form shall be liable to be penalized as per above recommendations including seizure of assets connected with its management and control.
4. The offences will be cognizable as well as non-bailable.
5. A list of the degree/ diplomas/ certificates to conform to the UGC requirements will be published before the beginning of the each academic year.
6. No institutions, not duly created by or under the act of Parliament or the Sate Legislature, shall have the right to use the word 'University' including any variant of it in any language, along with its name.

The report of the Task Force is under consideration of the Government and the UGC (Amendment) Bill, 1999 is proposed to be introduced in the Parliament in near future.  

State-wise List of fake Universities as on 08^thDecember, 2009(source-ugc website)

Bihar

1. Maithili University/Vishwavidyalaya, Darbhanga, Bihar.

Delhi

2. Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi (UP) Jagatpuri, Delhi.
3. Commercial University Ltd., Daryaganj, Delhi.
4. United Nations University, Delhi.
5. Vocational University, Delhi.
6. ADR-Centric Juridical University, ADR House, 8J, Gopala Tower, 25 Rajendra Place, New Delhi - 110 008.
7. Indian Institute of Science and Engineering, New Delhi.

Karnataka

8. Badaganvi Sarkar World Open University Education Society, Gokak, Belgaum, Karnataka.

Kerala

9. St. John�s University, Kishanattam, Kerala.

Madhya Pradesh

10. Kesarwani Vidyapith, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.

Maharashtra

11. Raja Arabic University, Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Tamil Nadu

12. D.D.B. Sanskrit University, Putur, Trichi, Tamil Nadu.

West Bengal

13. Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine, Kolkatta.

Uttar Pradesh

14. Mahila Gram Vidyapith/Vishwavidyalaya, (Women�s University) Prayag, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.
15. Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith, Prayag, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.
16. National University of Electro Complex Homeopathy, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
17. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University (Open University), Achaltal, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.
18. Uttar Pradesh Vishwavidyalaya, Kosi Kalan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
19. Maharana Pratap Shiksha Niketan Vishwavidyalaya, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh.
20. Indraprastha Shiksha Parishad, Institutional Area,Khoda,Makanpur,Noida Phase-II, Uttar Pradesh.
21. Gurukul Vishwavidyala, Vridanvan, Uttar Pradesh.