Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Mar 18: A student of the ICFAI National College here has approached the Supreme Court, seeking directions from the apex court for the closure of the college and such other educational institutions being run by this university, that do not have the University Grants Commission (UGC) recognition.

Rishab Jain, petitioner, said he had got admitted to the BBA course of the Bangalore college of ICFAI University Dehradun in 2004-05, by paying capitation and other fees amounting to over Rs 1,70,000. He has explained that he came to know that the university was not recognized by UGC, only when he tried to shift to another institute of the university located in Pune and realized that the degree the college would confer on him will be of no consequence.

It has been pointed out that the university's advertisement claims that its courses have been recognized under the UGC Act, which is a false claim.  A letter by UGC to Rishab's father clarified that the college has not been recognized under the said Act. 

Advocate P S Singh, appearing on behalf of the petitioner said that the University runs over 40 institutes in various cities of the country without obtaining the mandatory recognition. Students who secure MBA, BBA, MCA, B Com and other degrees through the University are being cheated, he said.

The petition, which prays an order to close the University and the colleges run by it, was heard by a bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan. It stands posted for final hearing later this month.