Al-Falah University blames 'oversight, website-design errors' for outdated accreditation claims
What's the story
Faridabad's Al-Falah University has responded to a show-cause notice issued by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) over misleading accreditation information. The university admitted that the outdated details on its website were due to "oversight," "website-design errors," and "unintentional lapses," Hindustan Times reported. Officials said the university appeared "apologetic" and confirmed that the incorrect claims have been removed.
Blast link
NAAC's notice followed Red Fort blast connection
The NAAC notice was issued two days after several doctors at Al-Falah Medical College were linked to the November 10 Red Fort blast, which killed 15 people. The council had objected to the university displaying "absolutely wrong and misleading" accreditation details, including an "A Grade" for its engineering college from 2013 and accreditation for its teacher education school from 2011, although NAAC accreditation is valid for only five years.
Council response
NAAC's response to Al-Falah's explanation
The university was directed to remove all false claims, file a compliance report, and respond within seven days. A senior NAAC official said, "Al-Falah University gave a long explanation about why the outdated accreditation information was still on their website." Another official noted that the explanation "was not entirely straightforward," adding that the university cited neglected webpages and a staff lapse.
Policy enforcement
NAAC's broader policy push for transparency
The officials said notices were issued to 24 other institutions as part of a broader NAAC policy push for transparency and compliance in displaying accreditation status. The council stated in a "cautionary note" issued in March 2018, that misrepresenting accreditation grades amounts to "misleading stakeholders" and makes the institution "liable to face stringent action."
Ongoing investigation
Al-Falah University faces further scrutiny
On November 12, the vice-chancellor issued a statement distancing the university from the arrested doctors, saying the institution had "no connection" with them beyond their work in their official capacity. The scrutiny of Al-Falah University has intensified beyond accreditation lapses. On November 18, the Enforcement Directorate arrested Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, chairman of the Al-Falah group, in a money laundering case linked to alleged fraudulent accreditation and financial irregularities. The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has reportedly revoked the institution's membership.