Hyderabad: UGC bans NALSAR from distance education admissions

According to sources, the NALSAR violated UGC regulations and did not provide satisfactory response to a query raised by the Commission on ODL programmes.

Hyderabad: In a major blow to NALSAR University of Law, the University Grants Commission (UGC) recently banned the premier law university in the State from offering online and distance learning (ODL) programmes for the academic year 2024-25.

“The Commission in its 584th meeting held on October 3, 2024 decided to ban NALSAR University of Law, Telangana, from offering ODL programmes for the academic year 2024-25, beginning from academic session October 2024 (revised from July-August 2024), as per provisions stipulated under the UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020,” read a notice recently issued by the UGC.

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According to sources, the ban has been imposed on the university as it allegedly violated UGC regulations. In addition, the UGC has raised a query regarding the ODL programmes for which the university reportedly failed to give a satisfactory response.

The UGC advised students and the general public not to take admission in any programme in ODL mode offered by the NALSAR for the academic year 2024-25. After completion of the debarment period, the university can apply afresh to UGC seeking to offer any ODL programmes. The permission will be accorded only if it meets all the eligibility criteria and as per the norms/regulations applicable at the time of application.

Efforts to reach NALSAR University of Law Vice Chancellor Prof. Srikrishna Deva Rao over the call for a comment on the matter proved futile.

As many as 25 courses including, two-year MA in Aviation Law and Air Transport, Space and Telecommunication Laws, Criminal Law and Forensic Science, Animal Protection laws, and one-year advanced diplomas in patent laws and cyber laws were offered by the university’s Centre for Distance & Online Education through open and distance learning mode for the academic year 2023-24. These courses see good enrollment every academic year.

The university recently awarded 1,255 degrees and diplomas to the eligible candidates of 2024 batch of the open and distance learning programmes during a special convocation.