IGNOU Not authorised to approve or run regular courses, says HC

In an important judgement, the Delhi High Court ruled that the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has no “legal authority” either to set up or accord recognition to an institution or college to impart “face-to-face” regular education.

In 2009, IGNOU had approved a ‘face to face Tech Aerospace Engineering’ course. Several colleges had signed a MoU with IGNOU to conduct the B Tech and Diploma courses in aeronautical. These courses were held like regular courses.

In August 2012, IGNOU suddenly decided to scrap the programme, as it did not meet the legal requirements and have AICTE approval. Affected colleges stated that admissions had already taken place and hence they cannot withdraw the course. However, the students were kept in the dark about the developments.

Turning down the petition by the Hindustan Aviation Academy, the Indian Institute of Aeronautical Engineering and students, the court also rapped IGNOU for their act. “The respondent university is clearly guilty of gross negligence and inaction. No attempt was taken by IGNOU to ensure that students, who in the absence of public notice from the university, could not be expected to be aware of its decision to suspend admission for the academic years 2012-13, did not pay fee to  institutes and did not take admission,” it said in the judgement.