In a significant verdict, the Delhi High Court today ruled that Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has no "legal authority" either to set up or accord recognition to an institution or college to impart "face-to-face" regular education. IGNOU, set up in 1985 to promote distance education, was dragged to court by various institutions, including Hindustan Aviation Academy, which were first allowed by the University to run B Tech and Diploma programme courses in the area of Aerospace Engineering. However, IGNOU later noticed that its approval to run "face-to-face" programme did not not meet legal requirements and asked the approved institutes to keep the admission process at abeyance.
