SHIVAJI GROUP OF EDUCATION Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Since all these petitions involve similar and identical facts and question of law they are heard and decided concomitantly upon hearing the learned counsel for the various petitions as well as counsel for the University, State, UGC and Union of India.

(2.) The petitioners in these petitions have filed these petitions against the notification dated 01.07.2015 issued by the respondent Karnataka State Open University (for short the 'K.S.O.U.') whereby the University in reference to the Public notice issued by the UGC dated 16.06.2015, letter dated 19.06.2015 issued by the Principal Secretary Government Education Department, (Higher Education, Banglore), approval granted by the Academic Council for the University in its proceedings dated 25.06.2015, approval of the Board of Management in its meeting held on 26.06.2015 and the approval granted by the Vice Chancellor on 01.07.2015, has withdrawn all the open distance education programmes offered by the collaborative institutions of KSOU outside the territory of the Karnataka State with immediate effect. The KSOU has also notified that all the educational institutions with whom it has entered into collaboration shall not make any further admission to any course.

(3.) In all the petitions, the petitioners have also challenged the consequential steps and the enquiry being conducted by the State authority on the complaint of certain students against the petitioners-institution to the effect that they have defrauded the students by extracting the fees for imparting education for the courses that had no recognition or authority in the State of M.P.