In what appears to be a shocking display of arrogance and deliberate attempt to evade accountability, Loyola College, Chennai has failed to provide clear responses to questions raised under the Right to Information (RTI) Act about its controversial collaboration with Don Bosco International Media Academy (DBIMA), Paris. The college not only issued an evasive reply but also did so beyond the legally mandated 30-day time limit, violating provisions of the RTI Act.
The RTI application, filed by R. Joseph Kennedy, a Loyola alumnus and Christian activist, was originally submitted to the University of Madras (UoM). However, rather than providing a response directly, UoM arbitarily forwarded the RTI to Loyola College — a surprising move, considering that Loyola is an affiliated institution under UoM and not an independent university.
Loyola responded well beyond the time limit stipulated under the RTI Act and has refused to comply with a Right to Information (RTI) query forwarded by the University itself. Shockingly, in its brief reply, the college refused to furnish any of the requested information, citing that the queries “have no public interest.”
“This is absurd,” says Kennedy. “My RTI was submitted to the University of Madras – the competent authority to supervise autonomous colleges – and it was rerouted to Loyola College, which now behaves as if it is a university unto itself. This is more than just another example of Jesuit arrogance, something I’ve seen far too often in the Chennai/Madurai Province. It’s my own Alma Mater openly defying the University of Madras and making a mockery of the RTI process.” Kennedy observed.
Despite holding public MoU ceremonies and issuing press material in the presence of faculty and students, the college has now claimed in an RTI response that the requested information does not serve any larger public interest. This contradicts its earlier public posturing, where both Loyola and DBIMA, Paris made elaborate announcements and held signing events with students and media presence. Photographs from the event clearly depict Loyola College officials and DBIMA representatives exchanging and signing MoUs.
What’s more disturbing is that Loyola College, which claims to uphold Jesuit values of truth and transparency, has continued promoting the second batch of this foreign diploma program, even as serious questions about its legality, academic recognition, and regulatory clearance remain unanswered.
“This is not an internal Jesuit affair anymore – this is about public accountability, safeguarding the future of students, and defending academic integrity. It seems clear that few corrupt officials within the University of Madras are enabling Loyola College to violate regulations and deceive students. Students are paying lakhs for a diploma that may not be worth the paper it’s printed on.” Kennedy said.
NHRC Takes Cognizance Of Complaint Against Loyola College & Don Bosco Paris
Based on a complaint from The Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF), a legal advocacy group, The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has officially taken cognizance of a serious human rights violation complaint against Loyola College, Chennai and its foreign partner, Don Bosco International Media Academy (DBIMA), Paris.
LRPF had filed a formal complaint with the University Grants Commission (UGC), Ministry of Education, and the University of Madras against Loyola College, Chennai, accusing Loyola College of running an unauthorized diploma program in filmmaking in collaboration with DBIMA, Paris, thereby violating key higher education regulations and potentially endangering the visa status of Indian students abroad.
This brazen disregard for public accountability and the RTI Act raises serious questions about collusion, regulatory failure, and corruption in Tamil Nadu’s higher education system. The University of Madras is urged to act swiftly and transparently to restore its credibility and take disciplinary action against Loyola College for flouting affiliation rules and obstructing lawful information requests.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
