NGO watchdog, the Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF) has written to Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, seeking the cancellation of Loyola College’s minority institution status, alleging large-scale irregularities in the conduct of its postgraduate philosophy programme in violation of university norms.
Loyola College, a century-old institution functioning under the University of Madras, offered postgraduate courses in philosophy. Investigations revealed that the MA Philosophy programme was conducted not within the college campus, but at “Sathya Nilayam”, a Jesuit priests’ training centre in Adyar, in violation of university regulations. Following these complaints, the LRPF approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the University of Madras, and the Governor.
The NHRC subsequently examined the matter and recommended action by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Separately, a committee led by University of Madras professors conducted an inspection and found that Loyola College had no dedicated classrooms, staff rooms, or departmental library for the philosophy department, concluding that the department effectively did not exist on campus.
Based on these findings, the University of Madras barred Loyola College from admitting students to the MA Philosophy programme for three years. However, the LRPF has argued that this action is inadequate.
In its letter to the Governor, the forum alleged that conducting the course at Sathya Nilayam effectively excluded non-Christian students, bypassed reservation norms, and facilitated the enrolment of Bangladeshi priests on student visas. The forum further alleged that student visas and financial aid were misused for missionary activities, amounting to visa fraud. It also claimed that foreign funds were received under FCRA and that educational certificates were fraudulently issued to foreign nationals.
The LRPF has demanded a comprehensive probe, cancellation of the MA Philosophy degree retrospectively from 1998, withdrawal of Loyola College’s autonomous and minority status, suspension of government funding, and blacklisting of the institution by the UGC.
Background
In August 2025, the University of Madras confirmed serious irregularities in the conduct of the MA Philosophy programme by Loyola College, following findings by its Inspection Commission that the course was being run without approval at the off-campus Jesuit centre, Satya Nilayam, in Thiruvanmiyur. The university submitted a detailed report to the National Human Rights Commission after the Commission flagged evasive responses from the university and issued a conditional summons. The action followed complaints filed by the Legal Rights Protection Forum with constitutional authorities, triggered by media reports on the matter. The university’s submission described “gross violations” of affiliation rules in the programme’s conduct.
The inspection found that Loyola’s Philosophy Department lacked basic infrastructure, including dedicated classrooms, faculty rooms, a departmental library, signage, and even the presence of enrolled students during inspection; classes were reportedly held in a common seminar hall. The report also flagged faculty appointment irregularities, including staff who did not meet UGC qualifications and instances of dual counting of faculty across institutions, alongside appointments made without the mandatory university selection process. Further, the university cited non-compliance with Tamil Nadu’s reservation norms, noting the failure to submit category-wise admission data despite repeated reminders, in violation of applicable Government Orders and university circulars.
Timeline Of Events
The inspection report, submitted in August 2025, follows a string of complaints filed since January alleging academic fraud, religious discrimination, and unauthorized operations at Satya Nilayam run by Loyola College. Let’s take a look at when the investigation began and how action was taken.
In January 2025, The Commune reported that Loyola College was allegedly running an unauthorised extension campus at Satya Nilayam for its University of Madras–affiliated M.A. Philosophy programme, purportedly catering mainly to Catholic seminarians. The report also flagged alleged religious discrimination, financial irregularities, misuse of UGC funds, and degrees issued despite students not attending the approved Loyola campus, claims later amplified in a video investigation by YouTuber Maridhas.
In February 2025, the Hyderabad-based Legal Rights Protection Forum filed a complaint with the Tamil Nadu Governor, also the Chancellor of the University of Madras, seeking withdrawal of Loyola College’s autonomy and affiliation. The petition alleged that Satya Nilayam, run under a separate Jesuit entity, illegally conducted courses while Loyola issued degrees, amounting to academic fraud and regulatory deception.
In March 2025, LRPF escalated the matter by petitioning Jesuit Superior General Fr. Arturo Sosa, alleging misuse of FCRA funds and UGC grants, citing disclosures by former Loyola principal Rev. Fr. Albert Muthumalai. The Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi intervened, directing the University of Madras to probe Satya Nilayam’s unauthorised operations and foreign seminarians.
Following complaints, Satya Nilayam’s website was abruptly altered in March 2025 to erase Loyola-University links, raising suspicions of cover-up. Despite repeated warnings, the University of Madras has failed to act decisively. The case highlights misuse of minority autonomy, systemic double standards, and demands urgent cancellation of affiliations and accountability.
LRPF filed a complaint with the Tamil Nadu Governor in March 2025 against University of Madras Registrar Prof. S. Elumalai, accusing him of enabling large-scale academic fraud involving Loyola College.
In April 2025, the Legal Rights Protection Forum approached the National Human Rights Commission alleging that Loyola College’s University of Madras–affiliated M.A. Philosophy programme was restricted to Christian students, amounting to religious discrimination. The complaint also accused Loyola of illegally running the course at Satya Nilayam, issuing fraudulent degrees, misusing visas, and lacking affiliation records, with no official response from Loyola or the university.
By April 2025, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took cognizance of complaints that non-Christian students were being systematically denied admission to the M.A. Philosophy course. The NHRC issued notices to the UGC and the Registrar of the University of Madras, seeking action taken reports.
Between May and July 2025, the NHRC escalated action after Loyola College and the University of Madras failed to give satisfactory replies. On 24 May 2025, the Commission reprimanded the Madras University Registrar and UGC, and on 24 July 2025 issued conditional summons directing them to appear on 19 August 2025 unless detailed reports were filed earlier.
In August 2025, a UGC committee inspected the University of Madras and Loyola College on August 13–14. Following the inspection, the University of Madras submitted a detailed report to the NHRC on August 16, confirming serious violations by Loyola College in running its M.A. Philosophy programme, including breaches of affiliation rules, UGC norms, and state directives.
And by late August 2025, University of Madras confirmed serious irregularities by the Loyola College in Chennai after the university’s Inspection Commission report.
Finally, in December 2025, the unauthorized programme has been suspended for 3 years.
Source: Dinamalar
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