FIR against SRMU for ‘illegal’ law course | Lucknow News
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh State Higher Education Council has registered an FIR against Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University (SRMU), Barabanki, for allegedly running an unrecognised law course for the past three years, in violation of the UP Private Universities Act, 2019, and related regulations.According to the FIR filed by Dinesh Kumar, council’s additional secretary, the university admitted students to its law programme in the academic years 2023–24 and 2024–25 despite not having recognition from the Bar Council of India. Examinations were conducted for these batches, and registrations for the 2025–26 session were underway, raising concerns about jeopardising students’ futures.The action follows a probe ordered by the Ayodhya divisional commissioner Rajesh Kumar and IG Ayodhya range Pravin Kumar after Sept 1 protest by students’ groups, including ABVP, against the unrecognised course. The agitation led to a clash and subsequent use of force on campus.The Council, acting as the nodal agency under the UP Private Universities Act, sought statutory and punitive action against the university management. Officials said continuing admissions without approval was not only a serious regulatory violation but also a breach of trust with students.The FIR has been lodged at Barabanki Kotwali police station under the charges of BNS 318 (4) (dishonestly inducing a person), 338 (forgery of documents), 336 (3) (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 340 (2) (fraudulently using a forged document) against SRMU, said SP, Barabanki, Arpit Vijayvargiya.Meanwhile, university vice-chancellor Vikas Mishra claimed the law programmes have BCI approval for the 2025–26 academic session. He said while affiliation is permanent, operational permission from regulators is renewed annually. “If approval is granted for 2025–26, students admitted in that session will have validity for the entire duration of their course. For example, a three-year LLB student admitted in 2025–26 will remain valid for all three years, and the same applies to five-year BA-LLB and BBA-LLB programmes,” he said. Currently, 1,000 students are enrolled in SRMU’s law course.
