HC tells HP varsity to take up ICDEOL issue with UGC

SHIMLA: The HP High Court on Monday directed Himachal Pradesh University to take up the matter with regard to the recognition of the International Centre for Distance Education and Open Learning (ICDEOL) with the Secretary (Distance Education), University Grants Commission (UGC).

Legal Correspondent

Shimla, July 16

The HP High Court on Monday directed Himachal Pradesh University to take up the matter with regard to the recognition of the International Centre for Distance Education and Open Learning (ICDEOL) with the Secretary (Distance Education), University Grants Commission (UGC).

It also directed the university Registrar to depute some responsible officials, who, along with the entire record of the recognition, can apprise the Secretary of the factual position.

It asked the Secretary to give a patient hearing to the university on this issue, and thereafter take a decision in accordance with law.

A Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Ajay Mohan Goel passed this order on a petition filed by the university, challenging the UGC order directing the university not to enrol more students in any course for 2018-19 through distance education.

In its plea, the university contended that it had been running open distance education programmes for long and the UGC had granted recognition to the university for the academic sessions 1971-1972 to 2015-2016.

It further stated that the university had been taking up the recognition issue with the UGC for the academic session 2018-19 and the continuation of recognition for sessions 2016-17 and 2017-18 on a regular basis, but to no avail.

The university authorities stated that they had been following all directions issued by the UGC from time to time and there was no lapse on part of the university. However, the Distance Education Bureau, UGC, which inspected the facilities, infrastructure and staff position at the centre, gave it 3.21 points while the minimum requirement was 3.26.

The UGC had on June 6 directed the university not to enrol more students in any course for the session of 2018-19.

Give patient hearing to HPU: Court

On June 6, the UGC asked the HPU not to enrol more students in any course for 2018-19 through distance education
The university authorities filed a petition in the HC, challenging the UGC order
The HC has directed the Registrar to depute some responsible officials, who, along with the entire record of the recognition, can apprise the Secretary of the factual position
The court has asked the Secretary to give a patient hearing to the university and take a decision