The direction was sent to the University Vice Chancellor by the Governor, who is also the varsity's chancellor.
University officials today confirmed the receipt of the directive issued by the Governor.
The order was in the wake of a recent Kerala High Court judgment in this regard and UGC guidelines on off-campus centres, they said.
Colleges in Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Ernakulam districts were affiliated to M G University and it has 122 off-campus centres.