Kollam: Mahatma Gandhi University has granted equivalency to distance education courses that were not approved by the University Grants Commission. The equivalency is being granted to those who studied at Bharathiar University in the academic years 2015-16 and 2016-17. 

Bharathiar University’s distance education program was disapproved in 2015–16 for failing to comply with UGC norms. Affected students had raised this issue with MG University, submitting complaints to the Vice Chancellor and Registrar. They argued that non-UGC-approved courses should not be granted equivalency and requested the university to respect the pending case on the matter in the Supreme Court.

However, the university authorities replied that they could not stop issuing equivalency certificates to students who had taken admission to distance education courses of other universities, including Bharathiar University, during the 2015-16 academic year. Since no positive action was taken, the students also filed a complaint with the Governor.