1. The question which this Court has considered from time to time is the validity of engineering degrees granted by the JRN Rajasthan Vidyapith. On 04.08.2015, this Court issued notice to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to ascertain whether approvals granted by Distance Education Council needed to be reviewed.

2. On 12.04.2017, this Court noted that counsel for the JRN Rajasthan Vidyapith University was not able to show any approval from competent authority for grant of the degree of engineering.

3. Our attention was drawn to letter dated 03.12.2007 addressed to UGC seeking ex post facto approval annexing a list of 295 courses run by the JRN Rajasthan Vidyapeet University under Distance Education system.

4. From the record, it is not clear what type of expertise the said University has, for granting degrees for such large number of courses by distance education mode. It is also not clear as to what is the methodology followed for monitoring the standard of education imparted by its centres on the basis of which such professional degrees are granted. It is also not clear what type of infrastructure is available with the said University.

5. From the material so far furnished, we got an impression that the University is indulging in a serious fraud in granting such degrees thereby affecting the lives of large number of people. In fact, we are inclined to direct CBI to conduct an inquiry about such fraud. Before doing so, we give last opportunity to the University to file its affidavit on or before 4th May, 2017.

6. It will also be open to the UGC and Ministry of H.R.D. to have their own feedback in the matter and file an affidavit before 4th May, 2017.

7. The University is restrained from awarding any further degree till further orders.

8. List the matter on 4th May, 2017 at 2.00 P.M. as Part-Heard.