The Maharashtra state government has taken stringent action against Bandra's Dr Baliram Hiray College of Architecture for operating an unauthorised BSc/BVoc in Interior Design programme, thereby cheating and misleading students. Following an inquiry by a fact-finding committee appointed by the state's Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), it has been recommended that the college refund the entire tuition fee and any other fees collected from students since the programme's inception in 2021-22 within 30 days.
Penalties and Directives
A fine of Rs 5 lakh each has been imposed on the management's president and the college principal. The institute has been directed to shut down the unauthorised course immediately. Additionally, the government has sought an explanation as to why it should not write to the Council of Architecture recommending the closure of the entire college, including its BArch and MArch programmes. The action was taken under the Maharashtra Unauthorised Institutions and Unauthorised Courses Act of 2013. Institute officials were unavailable for comment.
Refund and Legal Proceedings
The 13-page government report instructs the institute to not only refund fees and other amounts collected from students but also to submit proof of compliance within 30 days. The report recommends police action against the president and principal and has issued a show-cause notice requiring an explanation within 15 days to the DTE and Mumbai University. The notice asks why a recommendation should not be made to the Council of Architecture and the government to close the college. This explanation will be forwarded to the government for appropriate action.
Student Complaints
More than 130 students who enrolled in the BSc/BVoc (Interior Design) programme from 2021-22 have filed police complaints alleging academic fraud, institutional misrepresentation, economic offence, discrepancies in academic records, lack of transparency, and mental harassment by college authorities. The misrepresentation came to light when the first batch of students completed the programme and was about to graduate. Students were initially told the course was affiliated to Sangai University in Manipur, which was derecognised in 2024. Later, they were informed that they would receive degrees from Sikkim University, which was also on the UGC's defaulters' list.
Reaction from Student Representatives
Santosh Gangurde, state general secretary of the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena, who raised the matter with the government after students approached him with complaints, stated, "These measures send a strong message to institutions operating unauthorised courses and exploiting students, and will help prevent similar irregularities in the future."
