Dnyaneshwar Vidyapeeth
| Type | Defunct fake university |
|---|---|
| Active | 1980–2005 [1] |
| Location | Pune , Maharashtra , India |
Dnyaneshwar Vidyapeeth Trust (DVT) was an unaccredited fraudulent university[2] that operated from an apartment building[1] in Pune, Maharashtra. It was founded by M. D. Apte in 1980 and registered as "Educational Trust".[3][4]
It was not a university under UGC act. In a 2005 order, the Bombay High court said that Dnyaneshwar Vidyapeeth did not have any rights to award degrees. The university was subsequently shut down per the directions of the High Court and that the degrees issued were invalid.[2]
Manohar Joshi was chancellor of the organisation in 2003 but later the post of chancellor was abolished.[5]
DVT ran 33 franchises colleges across Maharashtra and Karnataka and offered diploma and degree courses in engineering. Nearly 5,000 students enrolled every year at annual fees from Rs 22,000 to Rs 25,000.[6] It ceased operations after a High Court order following a public interest litigation (PIL).[1]
Controversy
In 2015, then Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde's name came in the limelight concerning an unrecognised engineering degree obtained from DVT.[7]
Similarly, in 2020, Maharashtra Higher Education Minister Uday Samant's degree from the unrecognised institute called into question.[8]
References
- 1 2 3 "An education of state ministers: One 'unrecognised' degree at a time". Hindustan Times. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- 1 2 "Fake varsity under HC scanner". Daily News and Analysis. 29 September 2005. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ↑ "Vinod Tawde degree debate - Liberalise Higher Education". Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
- ↑ "Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde holds degree from unrecognised university". Daily News and Analysis. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ↑ "Dnyaneshwar Vidyapeeth Trust has abolished the post of Chancellor". The Indian Express. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
- ↑ "Education Minister Vinod Tawde's alma mater and 'degrees' that aren't". 24 June 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ↑ "Education Minister Vinod Tawde's alma mater and 'degrees' that aren't". The Indian Express. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ↑ "An education of state ministers: One 'unrecognised' degree at a time". Hindustan Times. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2021.