The University of Madras has suspended the MA Philosophy programme run by Loyola College for a period of three years after finding that the course was conducted in violation of affiliation norms, according to a decision taken by the university syndicate on Monday, 22 December 2025.
The suspension followed a complaint submitted by AS Santhosh, working president of the Legal Rights Protection Forum, Hyderabad, who alleged that the college was offering the MA Philosophy programme outside its approved campus. He contended that conducting the course off-campus amounted to a breach of the university’s affiliation rules and called for regulatory action.
The matter also drew official attention after a Deputy Secretary from Raj Bhavan forwarded a letter to the University of Madras along with the complaint. In addition, the National Human Rights Commission asked the university to submit a report detailing the action taken on the issue.
According to sources within the university, an inquiry committee examined the allegations and confirmed that the MA Philosophy programme had been conducted at Satya Nilayam in Adyar rather than on the designated Loyola College campus. After considering the explanation offered by the college management, the syndicate decided to suspend the programme for three academic years.
University sources further stated that Satya Nilayam was intended primarily for seminary-related activities and not for running affiliated degree programmes. However, the principal of Loyola College, Reverend A. Louis Arockiaraj, informed the Times of India that the institution had already discontinued the programme, citing poor student enrolment as the reason.
University of Madras Syndicate suspended Loyola College’s MA Philosophy program for 3 years as a penalty for academic fraud.
We are not satisfied with this inadequate action. We will take this fight further to seek stricter penalties and additional corrective measures. https://t.co/T9X2YWG3Qm pic.twitter.com/BiI7PcjSVn
— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) December 23, 2025
What Loyola College has done goes beyond academic misconduct. Foreign nationals, including individuals from Bangladesh, were reportedly housed at Satya Nilayam under the cover of an MA Philosophy programme run by Loyola College. A representation is being made to the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking cancellation of the institution’s FCRA registration and initiation of further legal and regulatory action.
Subscribe to our channels on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and YouTube to get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
