Chennai: University Grants Commission (UGC), after numerous instances of violating the guidelines framed by it, has shot a letter to all deemed-to-be universities in India clarifying that they are not certified to open and run off-campus centres / offshore campus centres / establish new departments / start new courses without obtaining specific prior approval of the UGC / Government of India. The letter clearly states that students could be admitted in these courses only after the approvals were obtained and submission of proposals could not be guaranteed approvals.
Moreover, the letter underlines the point that without getting a prior approval of UGC-AICTE-DEC Joint Committee, the deemed varsities cannot conduct any course under the distance mode. Degrees granted without such authorization would be termed as invalid. Study centres established for counselling or advising could not admit students. The letter also mentions that the deemed universities, being unitary institutions, are not conferred with the authority to affiliate colleges or institutions, and degrees awarded through such colleges or institutions would be treated as fake.
