KOZHIKODE: Many of the former erstwhile counselling centres of Calicut University, which were derecognised and shutdown following UGC's direction, are still making money using the name and emblem of the University. The University realised this after many students who applied to register in private stream at the varsity used the attestation of such counselling centres in the photo affixed with the form violating the rule which says only a gazetted official can attest.
The University has issued a press release asking students not to get cheated by such centres. Earlier, the counselling centres under the University had the power to attest the photo of students who sought registration under the School of Distant Education. However, the UGC directed the University to close down its centres outside its jurisdiction. The delay in complying with the order even led the UGC to de-recognize distance education courses in September 2015, jeopardising the education of lakhs of students.
At present, Calicut University is not taking new registrations through the SDE. "During the new registration process for private students, we found many bringing applications with photos attested by such centres. It is a laborious and time consuming task for us to inform students that such attestation cannot be accepted," said Dr Kannan V.M, director in-charge of SDE.
"Such counselling centres are saying they have a stay from the High Court on the de-recognition issue. Even if the court upholds their arguments at any later time, they cannot carry out a private registration process in which the SDE has no part. We have received many such complaints which were forwarded to the Legal Cell," he added. In the release, the University has directed the students and parents to resubmit the application forms if the attestation is done by a private institution.
