A formal complaint has been filed with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against Loyola College (Autonomous), Chennai, accusing the institution of religious discrimination, academic misrepresentation, and denial of equal access to education for Hindu students. The complaint was submitted to NHRC and seeks immediate intervention and action.
According to the complaint, Loyola College has allegedly been conducting its MA Philosophy programme off-campus at Satya Nilayam, a Jesuit-run theological training centre in Thiruvanmiyur, around 12 kilometres away from its approved campus. Satya Nilayam is operated by the Society of Sacred Heart College and is not an institution formally recognised under the affiliation norms of the University of Madras. The complainant argued that the programme was effectively limited to Catholic seminarians and Jesuit missionaries, thereby excluding non-Christian students in violation of Article 15(1) and Article 29(2) of the Indian Constitution.
It was further stated that Loyola College has been issuing degree certificates bearing the name and official logo of the University of Madras to students who have studied exclusively at Satya Nilayam, misleading both the university and regulatory bodies. A 2005 MA Philosophy degree certificate issued to a Jesuit missionary was cited as an example of this alleged misrepresentation.
The complaint also pointed to the changing contents of Satya Nilayam’s official website. Before a complaint was filed with the Governor of Tamil Nadu, the website had referenced Loyola College’s role in the MA Philosophy programme. These references were reportedly removed after the complaint, indicating what the petitioner described as a deliberate attempt to erase evidence. Archived versions of the website available through the Wayback Machine were submitted to the NHRC as supporting material.
The petitioner expressed concern that this arrangement not only breached academic integrity but also violated university affiliation rules, which require that all academic programmes be conducted within approved campus premises and remain open to students of all religious backgrounds. The use of an unapproved off-campus centre with restricted access was described in the complaint as a systematic denial of equal educational opportunities to Hindu and other non-Christian students.
The complaint also raised questions about the role of University of Madras officials. It noted that the university’s official website continued to refer to Satya Nilayam as an affiliated research centre offering the M.A. Philosophy programme in collaboration with Loyola College, even after the website of Satya Nilayam had removed such references.
Additionally, in response to an RTI query, the University of Madras stated in January 2023 that the original affiliation or permission order granted to Loyola College in 1998 was “untraceable” due to the passage of time, a claim the petitioner viewed with suspicion and described as indicative of administrative complicity.
The complaint urged the NHRC to recommend a full investigation and to direct the University Grants Commission (UGC) to take disciplinary action against both Loyola College and Satya Nilayam. The petitioner called for the cancellation of the MA Philosophy programme’s affiliation with the University of Madras, revocation of Loyola College’s autonomous status, and imposition of penalties for violating university regulations and constitutional principles.
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