Varsities directed to set up online portal to receive grievance from students

Hyderabad: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all the universities to set up an online portal by in three months to address students' grievances.

The online portal is intended to receive grievances from students.

The UGC asked the universities to complete the process within a period of three months from the date of issue of the regulations for setting up of an online portal.

The portal is meant for aggrieved students to submit an application seeking redressal of their grievance. The UGC has also directed the universities to communicate the same to all the affiliated colleges to ensure compliance of the regulations.

Accordingly, when once a student submits an online complaint, the institution concerned should refer the complaint to the appropriate Student Grievance Redressal Committee (SGRC) along with its comments within 15 days of receipt.

Besides, the SGRC must also fix a date for hearing the complaint and communicate to the institution and the aggrieved student the date and time of the hearing.

The aggrieved student can appear either in person or authorise his/her representative to present the case before the SGRC.

In case the grievances is not resolved by the University SGRC, then the same should be referred to the ombudsperson appointed under the regulations within a stipulated time.

The ombudsperson appointed under the regulations is empowered to give reasonable opportunities to both the parties to hear their versions on the issue.

On the conclusion of proceedings, then it can pass am order, giving reasons "as may be deemed fit to redress the grievance and provide such relief as may be appropriate to the aggrieved student", it added.

After the completion of the proceedings the institution, as well as the aggrieved student, would be provided with copies of the order under the signature of the ombudsperson, and "the institution shall place it for general information on its website".