Guwahati: Gauhati University on Wednesday issued a clarification rejecting what it called “misinformation and misreporting” surrounding the conferment of honorary degrees, stating that no individual within the institution has the authority to unilaterally decide or award Honoris Causa degrees.
In an official statement, the university emphasised that the process of awarding honorary doctorates — including Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) and Doctor of Science (D.Sc) — is a collective and multi-layered statutory procedure that undergoes detailed scrutiny and approval at several institutional levels.
“The conferment of honoris causa degrees is an institutional decision taken after rigorous evaluation at multiple statutory forums. No single person or office-bearer is empowered to take such a decision independently,” said Registrar Prof. Utpal Sarma.
Outlining the procedure, the university explained that any proposal for an honorary degree must first be tabled before the Executive Council for thorough examination and discussion.
Once cleared by the Council, the recommendation is forwarded to the Chancellor of Gauhati University and the Governor of Assam, who provide their approval after due review.
The final step involves the University Court, whose concurrence is mandatory before the degree can be conferred.
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The clarification followed recent speculation and media reports suggesting that certain university officials may have acted independently in recommending honorary degrees — allegations that Gauhati University dismissed as “baseless and misleading.”
“The university strongly urges the media, academic community, and the public to rely solely on verified information from official sources and not to be swayed by unverified social media claims,” the statement said.
It further encouraged stakeholders to check official updates through Gauhati University’s verified channels, including its website and social media handles on X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
