CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has restrained the ICFAI University, Hyderabad, and the

ICFAI National College here from making fresh admissions and collecting fees from
students.

An interim order was passed by the First Bench of Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice
Prabha Sridevan on Wednesday.

Adjourning further hearing on the public interest litigation petition filed by Dr. MGR Medical
University Senate Member K. Rajendran, to March 13, the Bench said it was the last chance
for the respondent-university and the college to file their replies.

"The petition seeks action against the private university and the college for running study
centres in Tamil Nadu without "any valid approval and recognition."

Private universities were abolished by the Supreme Court in 2005.

He said the ICFAI University, the 73rd respondent in the case heard by the Supreme Court,
was "fully aware of the fact that it had ceased to exist" pursuant to the order.

But, it has "chosen to issue advertisements calling for enrolment to various courses such as
MBA and MCA in both distance education and regular stream."

Bangalore, Mar 18: A student of the ICFAI National College here has approached the Supreme Court,
seeking directions from the apex court for the closure of the college and such other educational
institutions being run by this university, that do not have the University Grants Commission (UGC)
recognition.

Rishab Jain, petitioner, said he had got admitted to the BBA course of the Bangalore college of ICFAI
University Dehradun in 2004-05, by paying capitation and other fees amounting to over Rs 1,70,000. He
has explained that he came to know that the university was not recognized by UGC, only when he tried
to shift to another institute of the university located in Pune and realized that the degree the college
would confer on him will be of no consequence.

It has been pointed out that the university's advertisement claims that its courses have been recognized
under the UGC Act, which is a false claim.  A letter by UGC to Rishab's father clarified that the college
has not been recognized under the said Act. 

Advocate P S Singh, appearing on behalf of the petitioner said that the University runs over 40 institutes
in various cities of the country without obtaining the mandatory recognition. Students who secure MBA,
BBA, MCA, B Com and other degrees through the University are being cheated, he said.

The petition, which prays an order to close the University and the colleges run by it, was heard by a
bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan. It stands posted for final hearing later this month.