Students of a Bandra-based study centre allege that with no recognised degrees issued and shifting university affiliations raising red flags, they face uncertainty over academic and job prospects
Students outside Dr Baliram Hiray College protest over missing marksheets and unclear degree affiliation. Pics/Aditi Alurkar
Parents, students, alumni, and activists gathered at Dr Baliram Hiray College in Bandra East on Wednesday, March 18, alleging its interior design study centre has not issued valid degrees since its first batch that graduated in 2024, despite charging around Rs 80,000 per year.
Families waited outside seeking clarity as a delegation met the principal and representatives, with trustees absent, and were asked to return on March 23 for a detailed discussion, said activist Nitin Nanavare, Maharashtra Navnirman Vidhyarthi Sena.
Students said there is still no clarity on degree issuance or the authorised body, and while classes continue, they have no valid academic proof. They added that the course, run through a study centre, was earlier linked to Sangai International University, which was removed from the UGC list in 2024. They have now been told that a Sikkim-based university will award degrees, raising fresh concerns.
Students Speak
Shivani Pawar
First batch of 2021-24
“We still haven’t been given proper marksheets and degrees. Only a few got their marksheets from the Sangai University, but those were full of errors too. Now the university has been de-recognised. We are consistently asked to move jobs since we can’t turn in our degree even 6 months into the job”
Shravani Sonawane
Batch of 2022-25
“We were never told that the affiliated university was shut down and the degree-awarding authority is being shifted. Through the six semesters, we have not received any official certificates or mark sheets that we can present. The parents and students have been persistently following up with the authorities, but we received no clarity”
Manasvi Parab,
Batch of 2022-2025
“I graduated in May 2024 and hoped to apply to foreign universities, but I may miss the September intake since I have no degree in hand. My friends who have applied to jobs, are looking for promotions, or are trying to switch profiles, are facing difficulty, too. In fact, we don’t even know what our exact degrees state. So far, I have 2 marksheets from Sangai University, but the subjects don’t match the tests I took”
Official response
A senior official from the Dr Baliram Hiray College said, “The college is working towards giving students their degrees, and they will be distributed shortly. The students will be getting a BSc marksheet.”
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