AICTE Levels Serious Allegations Against Chennai-Based Deemed University Over Forged Approval Documents
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has made a serious accusation against Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, a deemed-to-be university located in Maduravoyal, Chennai. The council alleges that the institution forged its extension of approval (EOA) letter for the academic year 2025-26 and used this fraudulent document to approach the University Grants Commission (UGC) seeking approval to offer BBA and BCA programs through online mode.
Public Notice Highlights Fraud and Misrepresentation
In a public notice issued on January 22, Professor Shyama Rath, the member-secretary of AICTE, stated unequivocally that no approval was granted to Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute for offering BBA and BCA programs in online mode. She emphasized that "the submission of a forged EOA to UGC amounts to misrepresentation and fraud, which is a violation of AICTE norms and attracts penal consequences."
Following this revelation, AICTE has officially declared these online programs as unapproved, acting in accordance with the provisions of Clause 7.2 of the approval process handbook 2024-27. The council has issued a stern warning to students and parents, advising them "not to take admission in the unapproved online BBA and BCA programmes being advertised/operated by Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute."
Legal and Regulatory Implications of Unapproved Programs
Clause 7.2 of the AICTE approval process handbook empowers the council to designate any institution offering technical programs without its approval as an "unapproved institution." The clause further mandates that "the council shall inform the respective state government/UT to initiate appropriate penal, civil/criminal action against such defaulting institutions/trust/society/company/associated individuals, as the case may be." Additionally, AICTE commits to issuing public notices regularly regarding unapproved institutions to protect student interests.
University's Response and Clarification
In response to these allegations, C B Palanivelu, the registrar of Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, stated that the university did not enroll any students in these two online programs for the academic year 2025-26 due to poor response. He clarified, "We did not enrol students in these two programmes for the academic year 2025-26 due to poor response. We also clarified this issue to AICTE. For the academic year 2026-27, we applied for extension of approval with AICTE and are awaiting approval."
Regulatory Framework for Online and Technical Education
It is important to note that AICTE has made it mandatory for all colleges offering BCA and BBA degrees to obtain its approval from the academic year 2024-25 onward. For online degree programs, institutions must secure approval from the UGC's Distance Education Bureau, highlighting the dual regulatory oversight in place for technical and online education in India.
This incident underscores the critical importance of verifying accreditation and approvals before enrolling in higher education programs, especially in the rapidly growing domain of online learning. Students and parents are urged to consult official AICTE and UGC notifications to ensure the legitimacy of educational offerings.
