A number of universities are engaged in running a racket of opening study centres across the country in violation of their prescribed territorial jurisdictions in alleged connivance of the Government authorities.
While the regulatory body — University Grants Commission (UGC) — has listed 21 universities as fake, there are about 34 established private universities which have been flouting norms and operating beyond their permissible jurisdiction. Some of them are using the name(s) of famous personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhi. Presently there are a total of 154 private universities governed by the UGC (Establishment of and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities) Regulations, 2003.
A top official in the HRD Ministry said that the Ministry was aware of the racket and will soon launch a joint crackdown with nine State Governments. One such case, which the UGC has been probing for the last five months, is about Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) ‘operating’ from North-eastern State of Meghalaya. It has opened several study centres across the country by flouting norms laid by the Centre, State and UGC.
“It has violated all norms and opened study centres beyond its territorial jurisdiction. located at West Garo Hills, the MGU has not been authorised to run courses beyond the State of Meghalaya as per the regulations of Distance Education Council,” said a HRD official.
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34 private varsities run
illegal study centres
Other universities which have come under scanner are Meerut-based Swami Vivekanand Shubwati University, Jaipur National University & NIMS University in Rajasthan and Vinama Mission University from Sikkim.
Private universities have been duly established through a State or Central Act by a sponsoring body under the Societies Registration Act 1860, or any other corresponding law for the timebeing in force in a State or public trust or a Company registered under the Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956.
MHRD and UGC together have received about 34 complaints similar to the MGU from Northeast States, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. According to the UGC, all private universities should ensure adherence to Regulations and failure to comply would render any degree/diploma awarded by a private university as unspecified and invite penalty under Section 24 of the UGC Act.
On the basis of a complaint, the court last month issued notices to the Centre, HRD Ministry, DEC, UGC and MGU, Meghalaya. A petitioner has already approached the Delhi High Court to initiate vigilance inquiry against the collusion of DEC and private universities in running the racket.
DEC is a statutory body established by the HRD Ministry to regulate distance education. The MGU is approved by the DEC and UGC but not authorised to breach the territorial jurisdiction. The university came into existence by Gazette notification in January 2011. As per UGC regulations, any private university may be permitted to open off-campus centres, off-shore campus and study centres only after five year of its existence.
Sources said that it has been brought to the notice of the commission that the university has opened 500 study centres across the country and about 30 study centres abroad to run courses through distance education mode. The DEC states, “In case of State universities (both Government-funded and private), the territorial jurisdiction will be as per their Acts and Statues but not beyond the boundaries of their respective States”.
In a RTI reply, the UGC categorically stated that it has not recognised any study centres of the MGU outside Meghalaya.
ENDS