Document details
| Reference number | No. HTE/2/2024 (file HTE/5/2024-HTE-BR-HTE) |
| Date of reply | Dated Itanagar the 21st May 2024; digitally signed 21-05-2024 16:33:40 |
| Mode of despatch | By Speed Post |
| Issued by | Sanjay Bengia, PIO, For Director Higher & Technical Education, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar |
| Public authority | Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Directorate of Higher & Technical Education, Itanagar |
| Applicant | Kamesh, ACFE Member (USA) |
| RTI application | RTI application No. nil, dated 20/04/2024 |
| Subject | Furnishing of Information under RTI Act |
| Institution concerned | North East Frontier Technical University (NEFTU), Aalo, West Siang, Arunachal Pradesh – 791001 |
| Annexures | Annexure-1: UGC letter No F 8-22/2014 (CPP-I/PU) of October 2015 on the status of NEFTU. Annexure-2: Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Department of Education office memorandum No. ED/HE-83/2012 dated 28 April 2015. |
| Related correspondence | UGC letter F.No.20-87/2023 (CPP-/PU) of December 2023 to the Secretary, Directorate of Higher and Technical Education, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, forwarding a representation and asking the State to look into the matter and take appropriate action, with a copy to the Registrar of NEFTU requesting immediate comments to the UGC. |
| Forwarding letters | Form 'B' notices under rule 4(1) dated 21 March 2024, 21 May 2024 and 15 July 2024, forwarding RTI applications from this Directorate to the Vice-Chancellor of NEFTU as falling outside the jurisdiction of the competent authority, with copies to the Chairman, APPEIRC. |
Questions and official answers
The reply answers five numbered questions in a two-column table. Both the questions and the replies are reproduced below as printed.
| No. | Point | Official reply |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The total number of degrees issued by NEFTU to date. | Regarding the total number of Degrees issues by NEFTU till date, it is to inform that the Directorate of Higher & Technical Education is not the custodian of the Degrees issued by the NEFTU. The Directorate has no records of the Degrees issued by any Private Universities operating in the State. The factual data concerning with the issue of the Degrees is with NEFTU only. Hence, information may be sought from the NEFTU authorities. |
| 2 | The process and criteria used by NEFTU for issuing these degrees in campus and other states and overseas students. | Regarding the process and criteria issued by the NEFTU for issuance of the Degrees, it is to inform that as per the records available in the Directorate, the UGC have given mandatory permission to the NEFTU, Aalo to award Degrees as Specified under Section 22 of the UGC Act, through its main campus by regular mode only with the approval of the Regulatory Bodies/ Councils/ Statutory Bodies wherever it is required. (A copy of the same is placed at Annexure-1). It is also submitted that the State Government have circulated office memorandum bearing no. ED/HE-83/2012, Dated; 28th April'2015 prohibiting the private Universities to open off campus/ Study Centre (s) outside the territorial jurisdiction of the State of Arunachal Pradesh. (A copy of the same is placed at Annexure-2). However, a university is empowered to issue degrees to all bonafide students who have taken admission and passed the Degree Examinations from the NEFTU, as per the mandate of NEFTU Act. Regarding the process and criteria used by NEFTU, Aalo for issuing of the Degrees in campus and other states and overseas students may be furnished by the NEFTU Authorities only. |
| 3 | Records or monitoring reports, if any, maintained by the Directorate of Higher & Technical Education, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, regarding the issuance of degrees by NEFTU. | The Directorate is not keeping record of Degree Certificates awarded by the NEFTU. Since, NEFTU is a Private University and an autonomous Institution hence, no records of monitoring are being maintained by the Directorate regarding the issuance of the Degrees by the NEFTU. |
| 4 | Any measures taken by the Directorate to ensure compliance with the University Grants Commission's and to address the allegations of NEFTU selling backdated degrees. | Any University established and functional in Arunachal Pradesh is bound to comply with the Rules, Regulations and Guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC), other Central Regulatory Bodies and instructions issued by the State Government. All Universities (Public & Private) have to adhere to such instructions mandatorily. As of now the Directorate has not received any complaints regarding the selling of backdated degrees by the NEFTU. Being the part of the Government as and when any complaint is being received by the Directorate, immediately an appropriate action is being initiated by the Directorate. So far as, the matter of NEFTU is concerned, no complaint regarding the selling of the backdated degree is received by the Directorate. |
| 5 | Whether any suo motto action has been initiated against NEFTU by the Directorate of Higher & Technical Education, similar to the actions taken by HPPERC, which include seeking students attendance records, Examination records, fee records and other relevant documents for the issued degrees, as part of a thorough investigation into the university's practices. | Presently, the Arunachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission (APPEIRC) is operational in the State and all matters related to the Private Educational Institutions are under the functional jurisdiction of the APPEIRC. |
Key findings
The state holds no record of any degree issued
The Directorate states it is not the custodian of degrees issued by NEFTU and has no records of degrees issued by any private university operating in the state.
No monitoring records are kept
Because NEFTU is a private and autonomous institution, the Directorate states it maintains no monitoring records regarding the issuance of degrees.
UGC permission is for the main campus, regular mode only
Per the records available with the Directorate, the UGC's mandatory permission is to award section 22 degrees through the main campus by regular mode only, with approval of regulatory bodies where required (Annexure-1).
A 2015 state memorandum prohibits outside centres
Office memorandum No. ED/HE-83/2012 dated 28 April 2015 prohibits private universities from opening off-campus or study centres outside the territorial jurisdiction of Arunachal Pradesh (Annexure-2).
No complaint about backdated degrees on the Directorate's file
The Directorate states that as of the date of reply it had received no complaint regarding the selling of backdated degrees by NEFTU.
Jurisdiction sits with APPEIRC
On suo motu action, the Directorate states that all matters relating to private educational institutions are under the functional jurisdiction of the Arunachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission.
Timeline from the record
Off-campus centres prohibited
Department of Education office memorandum No. ED/HE-83/2012 directs that no off-campus or study centre be opened outside the state's territorial jurisdiction, and that existing ones be closed immediately.
Status of NEFTU stated
UGC letter No F 8-22/2014 (CPP-I/PU) records NEFTU as established by an Act of the Arunachal Pradesh legislature, empowered to award section 22 degrees through its main campus in regular mode, with no UGC approval for any off campus or study centre.
Representation forwarded to the State
UGC letter F.No.20-87/2023 forwards a representation to the Secretary, Directorate of Higher and Technical Education, asking the State to look into the matter, with a copy to NEFTU's Registrar requesting immediate comments.
RTI forwarded to NEFTU
The Directorate forwards an RTI application to the Vice-Chancellor of NEFTU under rule 4(1) as outside its jurisdiction.
Reply No. HTE/2/2024
The Directorate answers that it holds no degree records, no monitoring records, and has received no complaint about backdated degrees.
Further RTI forwarded
A further RTI application is forwarded to NEFTU, with a copy to the Chairman, APPEIRC.
What this record shows:
- The Directorate states it is not the custodian of degrees issued by NEFTU and holds no records of degrees issued by any private university in the state.
- The Directorate states it maintains no monitoring records regarding degree issuance by NEFTU.
- Per the records on its file, UGC permission is to award section 22 degrees through the main campus by regular mode only.
- A state office memorandum of 28 April 2015 prohibits private universities from opening off-campus or study centres outside Arunachal Pradesh.
- The Directorate states it had received no complaint regarding the selling of backdated degrees by NEFTU as at 21 May 2024.
- APPEIRC holds functional jurisdiction over private educational institutions in the state.
What it does not show:
- It does not state how many degrees NEFTU has issued — the Directorate does not hold that information.
- It does not establish or refute any allegation about backdated degrees; it records only that no complaint had reached this office.
- It does not state that any particular degree or certificate is genuine or forged.
- It records no finding, penalty or action against the university by any authority.
- It does not describe the position after the dates on the documents referred to.
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.