Document details
| Reference number | No. F. 1-309/2024(RIA)(CPP-I/PU) |
| Date of reply | May 2024 (office stamp 21 MAY 2024; signature dated 20/5/24) |
| Mode of despatch | By Speed-Post |
| Issued by | (R.I.S. Bhardwaj), Under Secretary & PIO |
| Public authority | University Grants Commission, Ministry of Education, Government of India, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110002 |
| Applicant | Kamesh, ACFE Member (USA) |
| RTI application | RTI dated 22.04.2024 |
| Subject | Information under Right to Information Act, 2005 |
| Institution concerned | Kalinga University, Raipur – 492101, Chhattisgarh |
| First Appellate Authority | Dr. Amol M. Andhare, Deputy Secretary, University Grants Commission, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi – 110 002 |
Questions and official answers
The reply answers questions 1 to 7 together in a single tabulated entry. It is reproduced below in full.
| No. | Point | Official reply |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 7 | Establishment, degree-awarding powers, centres, franchising, verification and distance education | Kalinga University, Raipur- 492101, Chhattisgarh has been established/notified on 24.03.2011 by an Act of State Legislature of Chhattisgarh as a Private University. The university is empowered to award degrees through its main campus in regular mode with the approval of Regulatory/Statutory Council(s), wherever required. Kalinga University, Raipur- 492101, Chhattisgarh 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 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 Distance Education Bureau of UGC, 35, Firozeshah Road, New Delhi-110 001. However, your application is being transferred to the Distance Education Bureau, UGC with the request to provide you the information regarding your RTI. |
Key findings
No UGC approval for any off-campus or study centre
The reply states that the UGC has not granted any approval to the University to open an off campus or study centre.
Degrees from the main campus, in regular mode
The university is described as empowered to award degrees through its main campus in regular mode, with the approval of regulatory or statutory councils where required.
Franchising with coaching institutions is excluded
The University cannot offer its programmes through a franchising arrangement with private coaching institutions, even for conducting courses through distance mode.
Established by state Act on 24.03.2011
The UGC confirms establishment or notification by an Act of the Chhattisgarh State Legislature as a private university.
Verification rests with the university
Degrees, diplomas and certificates are verified by the issuing authority only, which holds the records of students admitted and passed.
Distance education transferred to the DEB
The application was transferred to the Distance Education Bureau of the UGC with a request to supply the information sought.
Timeline from the record
Established by state Act
Kalinga University established/notified by an Act of the Chhattisgarh State Legislature as a private university.
RTI application
The reply cites an RTI dated 22.04.2024.
Reply No. F. 1-309/2024(RIA)(CPP-I/PU)
The UGC states no off-campus or study-centre approval has been granted, and transfers the distance-education part to the DEB.
What this record shows:
- The UGC states Kalinga University was established/notified on 24.03.2011 by an Act of the Chhattisgarh State Legislature.
- The UGC states it has granted the university no approval for any off campus or study centre.
- The UGC states the university cannot offer programmes through franchising with private coaching institutions.
- The UGC states degree verification is the responsibility of the issuing university.
What it does not show:
- It does not name or confirm the existence of any particular centre.
- It does not state that any particular degree or certificate is genuine or forged.
- It does not record any finding, penalty or action against the university.
- It does not answer the distance-education questions, which were transferred to the DEB.
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.