Ombudsman in Your University-UGC has passed the resolution that an ombudsman will be appointed in the institution established or incorporated by or under a Central Act or a State Act, and every institution recognized by the University Grants Commission under clause (f) of Section 2 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.
It will be the duty of every institution that it shall publish and/or upload on its website, before expiry of at least sixty days prior to the date of the commencement of the admission to any of its courses or programs of study, a prospectus containing the following for the information of persons intending to seek admission to such institution and the general public.
The Act does not stop here it says that if the university does not implement the appointment of Ombudsman it might come under fire and they invite certain action against it such as stopping the grants is one of them. We have given in the bottom the actions that can be taken against university for not fulfilling required thing.
So it will be necessary for the institutions that every Institution shall constitute such number of Students’ Grievance Redressal Committees (SGRC), as may be required to consider grievances of the students, with the following composition, namely:
a) A Professor – Chairperson
b) Four Professors/Senior Faculty Members of the Institution as Members.
c) A representative from among students to be nominated on academic merit/excellence in sports/performance in co-curricular activities-Special Invitee.
Who can be appointed Ombudsman?
The gazette says that the Ombudsperson shall be a retired Vice-Chancellor or a retired Professor (who has worked as Dean/HOD) and has 10 years’ experience as a Professor at State/Central Universities/Institutions of National Importance/Deemed to be Universities or a former District Judge
Duration of the Ombudsperson shall be for a period of three years or until he/she attains the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier, from the date of assuming office, and shall be eligible for reappointment for another one term.
While issues of malpractices in the conduct of examination or in the process of evaluation may be referred to the Ombudsperson, no appeal or application for revaluation or re-totalling of answer sheets from an examination, shall be entertained by the Ombudsperson unless specific irregularity materially affecting the outcome or specific instance of discrimination is indicated. He will resolve the complaint within 30 days
What this UGC act says
the list of programs of study and courses offered along with the broad outlines of the syllabus specified by the appropriate statutory authority or by the institution, as the case may be, for every course or program of study, including teaching hours, practical sessions and other assignments;
(b) the number of seats approved by the appropriate statutory authority in respect of each course or program of study for the academic year for which admission is proposed to be made;
(c) the conditions of educational qualifications and eligibility including the minimum and maximum age limit of persons for admission as a student in a particular course or program of study, specified by the institution;
(d) the process of selection of eligible candidates applying for such admission, including all relevant information in regard to the details of test or examination for selecting such candidates for admission to each course or program of study and the amount of fee prescribed for the admission test;
(e) each component of the fee, deposits and other charges payable by the students admitted to such institution for pursuing a course or program of study, and the other terms and conditions of such payment;
(f) rules/regulations for imposition and collection of any fines in specified heads or categories, minimum and maximum fines may be imposed;
(g) the percentage of tuition fee and other charges refundable to a student admitted in such institution in case such student withdraws from such institution before or after completion of course or program of study and the time within and the manner in which such refund shall be made to that student;
(h) details of the teaching faculty, including their educational qualifications, along with their type of appointment (Regular/visiting/guest) and teaching experience of every member thereof;
(i) information with regard to physical and academic infrastructure and other facilities including hostel accommodation and its fee, library, hospital, or industry wherein the practical training is to be imparted to the students and in particular the amenities accessible by students on being admitted to the institution;
Procedure for Complaint
Online Portal- each institution shall, within a period of three months from the date of issue of the notification, have an online portal where any aggrieved student may submit an application seeking redressal of grievance.
(ii) On receipt of an online complaint, the institution shall refer the complaint to the appropriate Students’ Grievance Redressal Committee, along with its comments within 15 days of receipt of complaint on the online portal.
(iii) The Students’ Grievance Redressal Committee, as the case may be, shall fix a date for hearing the complaint which shall be communicated to the institution and the aggrieved student.
(iv) An aggrieved student may appear either in person or authorize a representative to present the case.
(v) Grievances not resolved by the Students’ Grievance Redressal Committee within the time period provided in these regulations may be referred to the Ombudsperson by the university.
(vi) Institutions shall extend co-operation to the Ombudsperson or the Student Grievance Redressal Committee(s), in early redressal of grievances.
Result of not adhering to law
- withdrawal of declaration of fitness to receive grants under section 12B of the Act
- withholding any grant allocated to the Institution
- declaring the institution ineligible for consideration for any assistance under any of the general or special assistance programs of the Commission;
- declaring the institution ineligible to offer courses through Online/ODL mode for a specified period;
- withdrawing / withholding / suspending the approval for offering courses through Online/ODL mode;
- informing the general public, including potential candidates for admission, through a notice displayed prominently in suitable media and posted on the website of the Commission, declaring that the institution does not possess the minimum standards for redressal of grievances.
- recommend to the affiliating University for withdrawal of affiliation, in case of a college; (h) take such action as it may deem necessary, appropriate and fit, in case of an institution deemed to be University;
- recommend to the Central Government, if required, for withdrawal of declaration as institution deemed to be a University, in case of an institution deemed to be University;
- recommend to the State Government to take necessary and appropriate action, in case of a University established or incorporated under a State Act;