SC ruling: UGC asks varsities to stop affiliation as of now

The UGC has asked universities to stop granting any further affiliation to colleges offering technical or professional degrees till further communication in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that colleges do not need AICTE's approval for running MBA and MCA courses.
While the HRD Ministry has already initiated steps to bring an ordinance restoring the powers of All India Council for Technical Education, the UGC's directive today came as it is in the process of working suitable guidelines and regulations in view of the apex court ruling.
The guidelines would ensure standard of teaching and learning in affiliated colleges offering professional and technical courses.

Last month, the apex court had ruled that colleges affiliated to a university do not come under the purview of the definition of 'technical institution' as defined in the AICTE Act and in such a case, AICTE cannot directly control or supervise affiliated colleges.
It had ruled that AICTE was only an advisory body and colleges affiliated to various universities are not required to take its approval for running MBA programmes.
In its missive, the University Grants Commission said "any dilution of standards of technical education at this juncture would also belie the trust reposed by the Supreme Court on the sanctity of the autonomy of universities.