Under Section 12B of the UGC Act, 1956, the declaration of eligibility to receive funding may be withdrawn if UGC standards are broken.
Higher education institutes (HEIs) that are not abiding by the rules governing the refund of fees and original documents to students have received a harsh warning from the University Grants Commission (UGC).
The Commission has received references about non-refund fees by some universities or institutions in violation of the UGC guidelines or notices in the form of RTI applications, complaints, public grievances, and court cases.
The Commission emphasized that the UGC letter dated August 2 of this year must be strictly followed in letter and spirit, taking such complaints seriously.
According to clause 5 of the UGC notification regarding the refund of fees and non-retention of the original certificate issued in October 2018, “Any institution or university found to be violating the guidelines and refusing to refund the fee by giving its interpretation of the guidelines/notifications shall be liable for punitive actions.” The UGC stated.
Possible actions against HEIs in the case of UGC norms violations are as follows:
- Withdrawal of declaration of fitness to receive grants under Section 12B of the UGC Act, 1956.
- Withholding any grant allocated to the HEI.
- Declaring the HEI ineligible for consideration for any assistance under any of the general or special assistance programmes of the Commission.
- Informing the general public, including potential candidates for admission, through a notice displayed prominently in the newspapers or other suitable media and posted on the website of the Commission about the non-compliance by the HEI concerned.
- Recommend to the affiliating university the withdrawal of affiliation, in the case of a college or institute.
- Recommend to the Central Government for withdrawal of the declaration as an institution deemed to be a university, in the case of an institution deemed to be a university.
- Recommend to the appropriate State Government for appropriate necessary action in case a university is established or incorporated under a State Act.
- Taking such other action within its power as the Commission may deem fit.
“You are again requested to ensure compliance with the UGC directions regarding the refund of fees and return of the original document to the students,” the Commission reiterated.
(Source: OTV News )
