The University Grants Commission (UGC) has identified and posted on its official website, a list of 21 self-styled, unrecognised institutions in nine states, which are functioning against the provisions of the UGC Act, 1956.
Uttar Pradesh tops the list with 10 fake varsities while Maharashtra has just one Raja Arabic University, which is based in Nagpur. All these institutions have been declared as bogus and do not have any right to confer or grant degrees.
UGC officials said, “Many students are enrolled in these varsities as they are unaware that its a phony. This facilitates the quacks to continue to run their business.”
Interestingly, majority of these varsities have figured in the UGC fake varsity list many a times in the past few years. However, neither UGC nor any government authority has taken any action to close them down and thus vulnerable students continue to lose their money and time.
According to Section 22(1), of the UGC Act, only universities that are established by an Act of Parliament or the State Legislature or an institution deemed to be a university or an institution especially empowered by an Act of the Parliament can award degrees.
The degrees that are to be awarded by such universities, should also be listed by the UGC under Section 22(3) of the UGC Act, 1956. Furthermore, the word ‘University’ can’t be used by any institution other than a university established by or under a Central or a State Act or a Provincial Act.
State-wise List of fake Universities as in May 2014
Bihar
1. Maithili University/Vishwavidyalaya, Darbhanga, Bihar.
Delhi
2. Commercial University Ltd., Daryaganj, Delhi.
3. United Nations University, Delhi.
4. Vocational University, Delhi.
5. ADR-Centric Juridical University, ADR House, 8J, Gopala Tower, 25 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110 008.
6. Indian Institute of Science and Engineering, New Delhi.
Karnataka
1. Badaganvi Sarkar World Open University Education Society, Gokak, Belgaum, Karnataka.
Kerala
1. St. John’s University, Kishanattam, Kerala.
Madhya Pradesh
1. Kesarwani Vidyapith, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
Maharashtra
1. Raja Arabic University, Nagpur, Maharashtra.
Tamil Nadu
1. D.D.B. Sanskrit University, Putur, Trichi, Tamil Nadu.
West Bengal
1. Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine, Kolkatta.
Uttar Pradesh
1. Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi (UP) Jagatpuri, Delhi.
2. Mahila Gram Vidyapith/Vishwavidyalaya, (Women’s University) Prayag, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.
3. Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith, Prayag, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.
4. National University of Electro Complex Homeopathy, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
5. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University (Open University), Achaltal, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.
6. Uttar Pradesh Vishwavidyalaya, Kosi Kalan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
7. Maharana Pratap Shiksha Niketan Vishwavidyalaya, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh.
8. Indraprastha Shiksha Parishad, Institutional Area,Khoda,Makanpur,Noida Phase-II, Uttar Pradesh.
9. Gurukul Vishwavidyala, Vridanvan, Uttar Pradesh.
* Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad, Lucknow, UP – the matter is subjudice before the District Judge – Lucknow
