After the alleged case of more than 132 students of Dr. Baliram Hiray College, Bandra, through bogus courses and degrees surfaced in April, Higher and Technical Education Minister Shri Chandrakant Dada Patil has directed the administration to file criminal cases against institutions found cheating students. He said that protecting the academic interests of students is the highest priority and any fraud causing educational loss to students will not be tolerated.
The Minister took serious note of the case involving students of Dr. Baliram Hiray College, Bandra, Mumbai, and directed that immediate criminal action be initiated against the institutions responsible. Patil reviewed the matter in detail and directed that action be taken against the concerned institution under the relevant provisions of the University Act, considering the issue of recognition of the institution and the conduct of a course not approved by the University Grants Commission and Council of Architecture in a recognised architecture course institution.
He also directed that action be taken as per the provisions of the Maharashtra Prevention of Unauthorised Institutions and Unauthorised Courses of Study in Agriculture, Animal and Fishery Sciences, Health Sciences, Higher, Technical and Vocational Education Act, 2013.
Shri Patil said that some unauthorised universities or institutions, without approval from competent authorities, mislead students by making false promises or by creating an impression that the institution is recognised. Students realise later that they have been cheated. He appealed to students and parents not to fall prey to such claims and to verify the recognition of the course before taking admission.
The Minister said that students should check whether the name of the institution and the course are listed on the websites of the Directorate of Higher Education, the Directorate of Technical Education or the concerned competent authority before taking admission.
To prevent such incidents in future and to ensure student safety, the Minister directed the Department to prepare a special Standard Operating Procedure. He also directed that, in the interest of the 132 students admitted to Dr. Baliram Hiray College, Bandra, the Maharashtra State Academic and Research Council, MahaSARC, should examine the matter under the Recognition of Prior Learning provision of the National Education Policy 2020 and take further action to protect their academic interests.
