In this regard, the higher education regulator has also issued public notices on its website, warning parents to be careful about such universities while looking for admission avenues for their children after class 12th. At present there are 21 fake universities or institutes in the list of fake universities maintained by the UGC. Of these 21 fake universities, seven are located in Delhi, one in Karnataka, one in Kerala, one in Maharashtra, two in West Bengal, four in UP, two in Odisha, one in Puducherry and one in Andhra Pradesh.
Speaking to Education Times, Rajneesh Jain, Secretary, UGC, says, “The matters relating to fake universities come to our notice through receipt of complaints by the public or students, references from States, Union Territories (UTs) and local authorities. Huh. A recognized university as per law is one which satisfies section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956. As per this Act, a University is required to be established under a Central or State Act including any other institution. The University should be recognized by the UGC as per Section 22 of the UGC Act, 1956. Many examples of fake universities running in the country have come to our notice. After such cases come to our notice, we issue show cause notices to such self-styled institutions and write to the Principal Secretaries and Education Secretaries of the States and Union Territories requesting them to take action against them.
“If such self-styled institutions do not comply satisfactorily, we include their names in the list of fake universities. There are currently 21 universities or institutes in the list of fake universities. In addition, Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM), New Delhi is also not recognized by us as per Section 2(f) and Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.
Recently, we have issued public notices on our website cautioning the general public, students, parents and other stakeholders not to take admission in the following self-styled institutions like All India Institute of Public and Physical Health Sciences (AIIPPHS), a State Govt. Take it University in Delhi and Digital University of Skill Resurgence in Wardha district of Maharashtra,” informs Jain.
“An Anti Mal Practice Cell (AMPC) is in existence which is functioning since 30th May, 1996. The objective of the AMPC is to curb the menace of fake universities and degrees. Dealing with all matters relating to the existence and functioning of recognized universities.
AMPC liaises with various agencies of the Central and State Governments to check the menace of fake and unrecognized institutions. In this regard, it also requests the states or union territories and local authorities to take action against such institutions for violation of the UGC Act, 1956 and other penal laws,” says Jain.
Pankaj Mittal, general secretary of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), says, “As per Section 23 of the UGC, any institution which is not established by a State or Central Act or deemed to be a national university or institution of importance, is called a fake university. If such institutions use the word ‘University’ in their nomenclature, it is tantamount to being illegal. The degrees they give to students without a university have no value. Usually we get through the UGC. Get to know about fake universities.”