NHRC Seeks Detailed Report on Loyola Course

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sent a final reminder to
the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the University of Madras, asking
them to submit a detailed report by January 23. This is related to complaints
about a foreign diploma course earlier offered by Loyola College in Chennai.
The NHRC took notice of a complaint filed by A.S. Santhosh, general secretary
of the Legal Rights Protection Forum in Hyderabad. He claimed that Loyola
College offered a foreign-linked diploma course without getting the required
approvals, which is against UGC rules. He also alleged that students were
misled into paying high fees and were sent abroad on visas, putting them at
legal and financial risk.
Earlier, the NHRC had asked both the UGC and the University of Madras to
investigate the issue and submit reports on the action taken. In August,
the university submitted a report saying the allegations were false.
It stated that the course, called “Diploma in Film Making with AI France,”
was introduced under the college’s autonomous status, had approval from
statutory bodies, and followed UGC guidelines.
However, the complainant disagreed with this report. He said the university
had not followed key UGC rules related to international academic collaborations.
He referred to a reply received under the Right to Information (RTI) Act,
which he claimed showed that the required approvals were not taken.
After reviewing the documents, the NHRC asked the UGC and the university to
submit more detailed responses.
An official from Loyola College said that both the UGC and the University of
Madras had already found the allegations to be false during their inquiries
and had allowed the college to offer the course.