JOIN USRefuting reports that it was in the process of winding up JNU’s Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, the University Grants Commission has called the news “blatantly false”.
In a statement, the UGC said the news is based on a forged letter. “It would have been appropriate had the press confirmed the matter with UGC before publishing the news item,” it read.
The higher education regulator said it has established similar centres in various universities in the 10th plan on a plan-to-plan basis, provided these centres show satisfactory progress in the areas of their focus.
“Keeping in view the same procedure, the UGC would be extending these centres from April 1, 2017, onwards. UGC vide its letter No 3-6/2007(SCT) dated January 20, 2011, informed the Jawaharlal Nehru University that the centre will continue as earlier and the work done by the centre will be monitored by the commission.
“Further, UGC vide its vide letter No F 30-15/2007(CU) dated September 22, 2015, and F No 24-1/2015(CU) dated December 23, 2015, has again informed JNU that the centre being on a plan-to-plan basis, will continue on the same basis.
“Further to this, it is reiterated that the quoted letter in the newspapers is a forgery and as per records of UGC has not been issued by Ms Sushma Rathore, Under Secretary, UGC,” the statement read.