UGC issues another notice against ‘prophetic medicine varsity’ in Kozhikode

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued another public notice against the Kozhikode-based International Islamic University of Prophetic Medicine (IIUPM), calling it a fake university, and cautioning students, parents, and the public against taking admissions there.

According to the UGC website, IIUPM is among the two fake universities operating in Kerala. The other one is St. John’s University, Kishanattam. The website of the IIUPM says that it is “a Constitutional University set up based on Article 30 (1) of the Indian Constitution,” and “registered in Kerala Government under Central Act 1882”. It is run under the Jamiathu Twibbunnabawi Trust.

The recent public notice issued by Manish R. Joshi, Secretary, UGC, says that though a similar order was issued on May 18, 2023, enlisting IIUPM as a fake university, its board is still exhibited on the second floor of a building at Kunnamangalam, violating the UGC Act, 1956.

Section 22 of the Act stipulates that the right of conferring or granting degrees shall be exercised only by a university incorporated under a Central Act, Provincial Act, or a State Act; an institution deemed to be a university under Section 3; or an institution specially empowered by an Act of Parliament. However, IIUPM is neither recognised under Section 2 (f) nor Section 3 of the UGC Act, nor empowered to award any degree under its Section 22. Such institutions are also not supposed to use the word ‘university’ along with their title. The notice says that “taking admissions in such self-styled institutions may jeopardise the career of the students”.

The Kunnamangalam police had registered a case against 12 identifiable persons associated with this institution in November 2023 for reportedly offering fake courses in ‘Prophetic Medicine’ and allegedly pocketing around ₹1 crore as course fee from students from Ernakulam, Malappuram, Kollam, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha districts. It was based on complaints filed by a group of 21 learners. In the investigation, it was found that the institute issued PhD certificates to some learners who reportedly completed three-year courses in ‘Prophetic Medicine’. The candidates who secured certificates claimed they were not accepted anywhere, citing a lack of proper approval. The police had also found that the institute offered courses by fabricating orders issued by courts and universities. The institute reportedly lured learners by claiming that it would be upgraded to a deemed university in the future. The case is now pending in a local court.

Meanwhile, not much is also known about St. John’s University, Kishanattam, though this name has been on the UGC list of fake universities from Kerala for the past few years. Education department officials told The Hindu that they were unaware of its existence, and no one had heard about ‘Kishanattam’, its location, as well.