Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has warned students against seeking admission to Synergy School of Commerce for the 2026–27 academic year after an inquiry reportedly found that the institution was not operating at its registered address. The university has also confirmed that it has not granted the college affiliation for the year.
The warning followed a complaint from a student who approached the university after the college allegedly refused to issue her transfer certificate. University officials then tried to contact the institution by telephone but received no response, according to the report.
SPPU subsequently constituted an inquiry committee and sent its members to the address provided for Synergy School of Commerce, which is operated by Synergy Foundation. The committee reportedly found that the institution could not be located at the stated premises.
A public notice issued by SPPU Deputy Registrar Rajesh Raherkar stated that affiliation had not been granted to the college for 2026–27 due to various reasons. The notice advised students not to seek admission to any course offered by the institution during the academic year.
Under SPPU rules, colleges must obtain affiliation before admitting students to courses conducted under the university. Institutions are also not permitted to shift their premises without prior approval from the university. Admissions made without the required affiliation are not authorised under these rules.
The university has advised students to verify an institution’s affiliation status before paying fees or completing admission formalities. For applicants, the warning places the responsibility of checking recognition and affiliation before enrolment at the centre of the admissions process, particularly where colleges advertise courses linked to a recognised university.
The episode also highlights the administrative role universities play in monitoring affiliated institutions beyond the formal approval of courses. The inquiry was initiated after an individual student’s complaint, and the university’s reported inability to locate the institution at its registered address became a central part of the action.
SPPU has taken a firm position on institutions operating without required approvals. The report also notes wider concerns over staffing and compliance at colleges affiliated with the university, including institutions functioning without full-time principals and faculty members. However, the university’s public notice in this case specifically concerns the absence of affiliation for Synergy School of Commerce for 2026–27.
Students considering admission have been directed to verify affiliation with SPPU before making payments or completing admission procedures. The university’s warning remains the latest formal step identified in the report.
