Court asks IIPM,UGC to clarify on affiliation

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Manmohan treated the PIL as a “serious” matter and said illusions of any kind with respect to affiliation was impermissible for an institution providing education,as it concerned the future of the students. “No educational institution has the right to put students under any illusion or confusion in a country ruled by the law,” said the Bench.

The court has asked the Union of India,UGC,AICTE and the IIPM to file affidavits clarifying their stand on the disputes over affiliation and about the validity of the degrees being provided by the institute.

On the question of “franchising” education and providing it in an extra-territorial manner not allowed under the laws of the country,Justice Misra sought responses from the IIPM and government guidelines in the matter.

The PIL filed through advocate A J Bhambhani has objected to IIPM granting degrees through a foreign university when it has been declared “fake”. Bhambhani further claimed that the petitioner had the e-mails from the foreign university,with which IIPM claims affiliation,stating it had nothing to do with IIPM.

Supporting his contentions,the UGC counsel told the court IIPM could not be allowed to function as a coaching institute and then confer degrees from foreign universities.

Justice Misra issued notices to all parties,including the foreign varsity.