Al-Falah University gets show-cause notice over 'false accreditation claims'
What's the story
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has issued a show-cause notice to Al-Falah University for allegedly displaying false accreditation on its website. In the show-cause notice, the NAAC said it noted that the university, which has neither been accredited nor applied for accreditation by NAAC has "publicly displayed on its website that Al-Falah University is an endeavor of Al-Falah Charitable Trust, which has been running three colleges on the campus."
Misleading claims
Details of expired accreditations
The NAAC's show-cause notice pointed out that Al-Falah School of Engineering and Technology was part of the NAAC cycle from March 2013 to March 2018. Similarly, the department of teacher education was accredited for the cycle from 2011 to 2016. Both accreditations have now expired, but they were misleadingly displayed on the university's website.
Compliance request
University given 7 days to respond
The NAAC has asked Al-Falah University to explain why action should not be taken against it for misleading the public. The council also demanded that the university remove all references to NAAC accreditation from its website and other documents. The university has been given seven days to comply with these demands and respond to the show-cause notice.
Uni
'They should have come in for accreditation'
A senior NAAC official said, "They should have come in for accreditation as a university, but they never did. But on their website, they have said that they are NAAC accredited. Once the accreditation period is over, they cannot use it on their website." "After this incident (the blast), it was pointed out that they are displaying the accreditation. So, we have issued a show-cause notice. We will also conduct an inquiry, and will give our recommendation to regulatory authorities."
Ongoing investigation
Action amid investigation into Delhi car blast
The NAAC's action comes amid an ongoing investigation into a car blast near Red Fort in Delhi. The blast killed at least 13 people and injured several others. Three doctors associated with Al-Falah University were among those arrested in connection with the incident. However, the institution said it "has no connection with the said persons apart from them working in their official capacities with the university."