Document details
| Reference number | No. F. 1-1653/2022(RIA) (CPP-I/PU) |
| Date of reply | October 2022 (office dispatch stamp 31 OCT 2022) |
| Mode of despatch | Speed Post |
| Issued by | Dr. Naresh Kumar Sharma, Under Secretary & CPIO |
| Public authority | University Grants Commission, Ministry of Education, Government of India, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110002 |
| Applicant | Kamesh, ACFE Member (USA) |
| RTI application dated | 09.07.2022, received in the UGC office on 18.07.2022 |
| Subject | Information under Right to Information Act, 2005 |
| Institution concerned | Sabarmati University (formerly Calorx Teacher's University), Ahmedabad, Gujarat |
| First Appellate Authority | Dr. Surender Singh, Joint Secretary, University Grants Commission, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110 002, Ph. 23604231 |
Questions and official answers
The reply does not reproduce the text of the questions asked. It answers by question number, grouping questions 2, 4, 5 and 6 into a single composite reply. The numbering and wording below follow the original table.
| No. | Information sought | Official reply |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Question 1 (text not reproduced in the reply) — relating to complaints received by the UGC. | “UGC does not maintained specific data in respect of complaints received. However, the complaints are sent to the Universities for necessary action.” |
| 3 | Question 3 (text not reproduced in the reply). | “Desired information is not under the control of this CPIO. You are requested to approach the Sabarmati University, (Formerly Calorx Teacher's University), Ahmadabad directly for the information. However, your RTI applicant is being sent to the Sabarmati University, (Formerly Calorx Teacher's University), Ahmadabad, Gujarat.” |
| 2, 4, 5, 6 | Questions 2, 4, 5 and 6 (texts not reproduced) — answered together on establishment, degree-awarding power, centres and verification. | “Sabarmati University, (Formerly Calorx Teacher's University), Ahmadabad has been established/notified on 07.07.2009 by an Act of State Legislature of Gujarat as a Private University and is empowered to award degrees as specified under Section 22 of the UGC Act through its main campus in regular mode with the approval of Statutory Bodies of the University and Statutory Council(s), wherever it is required, after creating required academic and physical infrastructure facilities including library, laboratories and appointment of teaching and supporting staffs as per the norms and standards laid down by UGC and other relevant Statutory Council(s).” “Sabarmati University, (Formerly Calorx Teacher's University), Ahmadabad is not authorized to open study centre/ off campus centre beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the state as per the judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in case of Prof. Yashpal vs. State of Chhattisgarh. The University cannot open its centre(s) even within the state as per the provision of UGC (Establishment of and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities) Regulations, 2003 without the approval of UGC. The UGC has not granted any approval to the University to open off campus/study centre.” “The University cannot offer its programmes through franchising arrangement with Private coaching institutions even for the purpose of conducting of courses through distance mode.” “The degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) are verified/validated by the issuing authority i.e. concerned university/institution only, as the details of students admitted/passed are maintained by the concerned HEI. Therefore verification of degree/Diploma is the responsibility of university concerned.” “For information related to Distance Education you are requested to approach directly to the Joint Secretary, Distance Education Bureau, UGC, 35, Firozeshah Road, New Delhi-110 001.” |
Key findings
Recognised state private university
The UGC states the university was established and notified on 07.07.2009 by an Act of the State Legislature of Gujarat as a private university.
Degree-awarding power under Section 22
It is “empowered to award degrees as specified under Section 22 of the UGC Act” — but the reply qualifies this as being through its main campus, in regular mode.
No UGC approval for any off-campus or study centre
In the UGC's words: “The UGC has not granted any approval to the University to open off campus/study centre.”
Franchising with private coaching institutions barred
The reply states the university cannot offer its programmes through a franchising arrangement with private coaching institutions, even for conducting courses through distance mode.
Territorial limit on centres
The reply cites the Supreme Court judgment in Prof. Yashpal vs. State of Chhattisgarh: the university is not authorised to open a study or off-campus centre beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the state, and cannot open centres within the state either without UGC approval under the 2003 Regulations.
UGC keeps no complaint-wise data
The UGC states it does not maintain specific data on complaints received; complaints are forwarded to the universities concerned for necessary action.
Verification is the university's own responsibility
The UGC states that degrees, diplomas and certificates are verified or validated only by the issuing authority, because student records are held by the institution concerned.
Timeline from the record
University notified
Established and notified by an Act of the State Legislature of Gujarat as a private university, per the UGC reply.
RTI application
Application filed by Kamesh; received in the UGC office on 18.07.2022.
Reply F. 1-1653/2022(RIA) (CPP-I/PU)
UGC states no approval granted for any off-campus or study centre; franchising barred. Dispatch stamp 31 OCT 2022.
What this record shows:
- The UGC stated in October 2022 that Sabarmati University (formerly Calorx Teacher's University), Ahmedabad, was established and notified on 07.07.2009 by an Act of the Gujarat State Legislature as a private university.
- The UGC stated it had granted the university no approval to open an off-campus or study centre.
- The UGC stated the university cannot offer programmes through franchising arrangements with private coaching institutions, including for distance mode.
- The UGC stated that verification of degrees and diplomas is the responsibility of the issuing university.
What it does not show:
- It does not state that any Sabarmati University degree is fake, invalid or wrongly issued.
- It does not name any centre, franchisee or coaching institution, and makes no allegation against any named person or business.
- It does not reproduce the questions asked, so the exact scope of the RTI application cannot be read from the reply alone.
- It does not show the position after October 2022; approvals and recognitions can change.
Every statement on this page is drawn from the official document described above. Readers should rely on the original document and the issuing authority for any decision.