The University Grants Commission (UGC) will now seek legal opinion on its two-year-old ban on MPhil and PhD courses through distance learning. The decision came after universities have claimed that such a ban is hampering their autonomy. The commission that is facing widespread protests discussed the matter at its last meeting on February 3, 2011 and decided to seek legal opinion on whether its regulations can override powers conferred on the universities by their acts to offer such courses, a source said. The UGC came out with a rule in 2009
