The Annamalai University, Chennai, has transgressed the University Grants Commission (UGC) decrees in conducting the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) courses without authorisation. According to UGC, the university was only admitted to offering ODL programmes till the academic year 2014-15 and "no additional recognition has been accorded to it to offer any programme via ODL method.

The UGC advised students and other stakeholders that the ODL programmes were invalid and the university is only accountable for the career outcomes of the students, the UGC notification said.

UGC also instructed students not to take entry into any programme presented by the University through ODL mode. And to Take admissions in such programmes may endanger students' careers due to the absence of recognition of the programmes by the UGC. 

According to the UGC's decrees for the ODL programmes, "No higher educational institutions shall deliver any open or distance learning programmes and accept students unless it has been offered recognition by the council.