University Grants Commission Takes Aim at Unspecified Degrees

The Delhi High Court has taken a firm stance on the issue of "unspecified degrees" awarded by colleges and directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) to intervene in the matter. A public interest litigation (PIL) prompted this action, highlighting the importance of UGC-approved degree specifications to maintain educational consistency.

Key Points:

• The Delhi High Court, led by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, heard the case and acknowledged the UGC's authority to address the matter of unspecified degrees.
• The UGC's core functions include establishing and upholding standards for teaching, examinations, and research, monitoring developments in higher education, and allocating grants to educational institutions.
• The court emphasized that universities offering unspecified degrees are at risk of sanctions under the UGC Act.
• To ensure awareness among students enrolling in universities and colleges, the court stressed the importance of periodically publishing UGC-approved degree requirements on its website. This measure aims to make it clear that degrees from unidentified programs will not be recognized by the regulatory body.
• The petitioner, Rahul Mahajan, alleged that the UGC's actions were ineffective and pointed out inconsistencies in its regulations. He argued that students receiving degrees not recognized by the UGC were wasting time, resources, and effort.
• The court reaffirmed the UGC's authority to take appropriate action against universities and colleges offering unspecified degrees, highlighting the potential penalties under Section 24 of the UGC Act, 1956.

This directive from the Delhi High Court underscores the significance of standardized degree specifications and aims to protect students from pursuing degrees that may not be recognized by the UGC.