All the six off campuses of Birla Institute of Technology (BIT) Mesra located at Patna, Deoghar, Noida, Kolkata, Allahabad and lalpur in Ranchi, are quite genuine and will not be closed.
According to the reply filed by BIT Mesra to University Grants Commission (UGC) related to the notice issued to it on off campus controversy, the institution has said that no rules have been violated in this regard. The last date for filing reply was on Wednesday (December 9).
“We have already filed a reply in this regard which, being confidential, could not be disclosed at this point of time. let the reply come from their side, only after which we will be able to share it,” said Registrar AP Krishna.
Sources, however, revealed that the institute, contradicting the charges made by the UGC, has retorted that all the off campuses of BIT Mesra were quite genuine and have been set up fulfilling the guidelines of UGC.
Denying violation of the UGC guidelines, the Registrar also claimed that appropriate reply has been sent to the UGC. Officials also maintained that there was nothing to worry as they have conveyed their points strongly before the UGC. “We are as much concerned for the future of our students as anybody else,” said Krishna.
The letters issued by the UGC stated that it was a violation of the clause 6 of the UGC guidelines and Article 12(5) of the Deemed University regulations of 2010. UGC also demanded ATR (Action Taken Report) from all the ten premiere institutes.
The UGC through a notice issued to BIT Mesra, along with nine other top institutes of the country, had sought explanation for violating UGC guidelines and Deemed University regulations asking them to shut down their off-campuses. The notice also stated that these institutes were set up without availing an approval from the HRD Ministry.
The other nine institutes which were issued notices include — Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, BITS Pilani, Banasthali University (Rajasthan), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies University, The lakshmibai National University of Physical Education (lNIPE), Gwalior and Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Science and Technology (PRIST).