UGC Issues Notice To Bible Open University India For Awarding Bachelor, Master & PhD Degrees Without Authority

The University Grants Commission has issued a warning notice to the Bible Open University India for functioning as a "University" without authority and for issuing Bachelor, Master and PhD Degrees to students, as per legal advocacy group Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF).

The Bible Open University India, based in Visakhapatnam, claims to be registered under Section 9 of the Andhra Pradesh Societies Registration Act, 2001.

The LRPF had filed a complaint before the UGC alleging that the Bible Open University "has been misleading gullible youth and their parents into believing that they are fully authorized to function as a University and award Under Graduate/Post Graduate and Ph.D Degrees. Towards this purpose, they are collecting huge amounts as fees from students and their parents".

The group had sought action from the UGC to prevent the Bible Open University from using the word 'University' and also from issuing any type of degree.

The group had relied upon Section 22(1) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, which states that "the right of conferring or granting degrees shall be exercised only by a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act or an institution deemed to be a University under section 3 or an institution specially empowered by an Act of Parliament to confer or grant degrees".

The UGC has now informed the group in a reply under the Right to Information Act that it is issuing a warning notice to the said University. "The UGC is also issuing a warning notice to Bible open University of India, H. No. 49-35-26 N.G.O.'s Colony, Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh- 530016 and endorsing a copy to the Department of higher education, Andhra Pradesh", the UGC has said.