UGC Notification on Ph.D. & M.Phil Scholars is Binding: JNU to Delhi HC

Jawaharlal Nehru University or JNU has informed the High Court of Delhi that the notification of University Grants Commission (UGC) regarding the number of scholars that a professor can guide at one time is binding on the varsity. As per the UGC notification dated May 5, 2016, a professor cannot supervise more than eight Ph.D. and three M.Phil scholars at any one time.

Monika Arora, the advocate who is representing the administration of JNU informed the HC that it is mandatory for the varsity to follow the UGC notification. Currently, 43 central universities across India are following the UGC notification and there is no exception for JNU.

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On the other hand, the student counsel argued that the varsity did not include the representatives in the meetings that were held to discuss the implementation of the UGC notification. Therefore, the unanimous decision of JNU to adopt UGC notification is not judicial.

After hearing the arguments, the High Court has posted the case for further hearing on March 14, 2017. The student's counsel clarified that they did not include University Grants Commission (UGC) as a party in the case.

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Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) had adopted the UGC notification on December 26, 2016, during the 142^nd Academic Council (AC) meet. Since then the varsity has been witnessing protests from students. The students also blocked the administrative block of the varsity. However, the students called off the blockade as the administration of the varsity agreed to talk to the students.