NEW DELHI: Now if a student fails to get relief from be it admission-related complaints or incomplete/ misleading information in the prospectus, fee-related issues or any other grievance like exam malpractices within a stipulated time from the institution’s Students’ Grievance Redressal Committee, they will have the option to appeal to the Ombudsperson (Lokpal). The Gazette notification on “University Grants Commission (Redressal of Grievances of Students) Regulations, 2023,” notified on April 11 stated that each university shall appoint an Ombudsperson for redressal of grievances of students at the university and colleges/ institutions affiliated with the university. The Ombudsperson shall be a retired vice-chancellor or a retired professor or a former District Judge whose recommendations are binding on the institutions.
The objective of the regulations is “To provide opportunities for redressal of certain grievances of students already enrolled in any institution, as well as those seeking admission to such institutions, and a mechanism thereto.”
The notification detailed the composition of the Student Grievance Redressal Committees (SGRC) at the institution which includes a “representative from among students to be nominated on academic merit/excellence in sports/performance in co-curricular activities-Special Invitee,” and has set the SGRC to send its report with recommendations “preferably within a period of 15 working days from the date of receipt of the complaint.
The regulations offer a provision to the students to appeal to the Ombudsperson “aggrieved by the decision of the” SGRC within a period of fifteen days from the date of receipt of such decision.
As per the notification, each University shall appoint Ombudsperson for redressal of grievances of students of the university and colleges/institutions affiliated with the university and “There shall be one or more part-time functionaries designated as Ombudspersons to hear, and decide on, appeals preferred against the decisions of the SGRCs.”
Eligibility criteria for the appointment of 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.
According to the new regulations, it is mandatory for each institution to publish and/ or upload on its website, “before the 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,” and has listed 11 mandatory contents which include a list of programmes and syllabus outline, approved seats, each component of the fee and refund preconditions, as well as details of teaching faculty including visiting/ guest faculty.
The objective of the regulations is “To provide opportunities for redressal of certain grievances of students already enrolled in any institution, as well as those seeking admission to such institutions, and a mechanism thereto.”
The notification detailed the composition of the Student Grievance Redressal Committees (SGRC) at the institution which includes a “representative from among students to be nominated on academic merit/excellence in sports/performance in co-curricular activities-Special Invitee,” and has set the SGRC to send its report with recommendations “preferably within a period of 15 working days from the date of receipt of the complaint.
The regulations offer a provision to the students to appeal to the Ombudsperson “aggrieved by the decision of the” SGRC within a period of fifteen days from the date of receipt of such decision.
As per the notification, each University shall appoint Ombudsperson for redressal of grievances of students of the university and colleges/institutions affiliated with the university and “There shall be one or more part-time functionaries designated as Ombudspersons to hear, and decide on, appeals preferred against the decisions of the SGRCs.”
Eligibility criteria for the appointment of 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.
According to the new regulations, it is mandatory for each institution to publish and/ or upload on its website, “before the 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,” and has listed 11 mandatory contents which include a list of programmes and syllabus outline, approved seats, each component of the fee and refund preconditions, as well as details of teaching faculty including visiting/ guest faculty.
