New Delhi: The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has issued a show-cause notice to Al-Falah University, which is under scanner in connection with the Delhi blast probe, for displaying false accreditation on its website, officials said on Thursday.
In the show-cause notice, the NAAC said it has noted that the Al-Falah University, “which is neither accredited nor applied for accreditation by NAAC”, has publicly displayed on its website that “Al-Falah University is an endeavour of Al-Falah Charitable Trust, which has been running three colleges on the campus, namely Al Falah School of Engineering and Technology (since 1997, Graded A by NAAC), Brown Hill College of Engineering and Technology (since 2008), and Al-Falah School of Education and Training (since 2006, Graded A by NAAC).”
“This is absolutely wrong and misleading the public, especially the parents, students, and stakeholders,” the show-cause notice read.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has also sought a report from Al-Falah University on the “recent incident,” asking for details of the steps taken by the institution and a comprehensive explanation, senior government officials told ThePrint.
In its notice, NAAC director Ganesan Kannabiran stated that Al-Falah’s School of Engineering & Technology was accredited between March 2013 and March 2018, and the Department of Teacher Education from 2011 to 2016, both with Grade ‘A’. However, neither has applied for the second cycle of accreditation.
The notice said the university’s claim of ongoing accreditation was “absolutely wrong and misleading to the public, especially parents, students, and stakeholders.” The council’s Executive Committee has therefore issued a show-cause notice demanding an explanation.
NAAC has also asked the university to justify why “appropriate or legal action” should not be taken and why it should not be barred from future accreditation processes. The council has further warned that it may recommend to the UGC the withdrawal of Al-Falah University’s recognition under Sections 2(f) and 12B of the UGC Act, and advise the National Medical Commission (NMC) to revoke recognition of its medical school.
