The Human Resource Development Department has invited applications for setting up privately owned and operated universities in Jharkhand in accordance with the model guideline to regularise their entries. The Department based on the provisions of the model set of rules is eying to institutionalise interested parties from across the country for institutions of higher education in different parts of the State.
Though, there is no timeline fixed for responding but the step has ensured that any private university coming to Jharkhand has to stick to each and every clause of the model guideline. Some of the most important provisions of the guideline specify measurement of land for the proposed institution. “land issue has been a major bone of contention as far as private universities functional in Jharkhand are concerned. There are many but most of them are languishing in the want of suitable and desired land. Universities are being operated like coaching institutes. This has brought disrepute (to the State). We have addressed this issue in the model guideline,” said DN Ojha, Higher Education Director of the State.
As per the norms, an applicant should have in its possession at least 20 acres of land or has to do so within two years time after getting in principal approval. This apart, certain numbers of faculties, infrastructure necessary for smooth running of academic activities and building etc have been specified. The guideline also puts Rs 100,000 as application fee.
“We have sought all significant information related to land and infrastructure at the time of application itself so that only serious players can come. There is a Screening Committee headed by Higher Education Director and three other members that would scrutinise the ‘letter of intent’ coming. All the applications would be looked into the light of the new model guideline,” added Ojha.
Private universities such as Sainath University, Rai University, ICFAI and Usha Martin University have been allowed to operate in the State between 2006 and 2012-13 but many of them still in their cradles, primarily due to land issue. These universities are guided by the Act passed by Parliament. However, these already approved varsities would not come under the purview of the new guideline.
“Moreover, we have about 50-odd good or bad applications pending for opening private universities here. We have told all of them to apply afresh under the new set of rules. The guideline is firstly to show intent of the Government in relation to private universities and also to regulate random applications coming for the purpose,” HRD Secretary Aradhana Patnaik told The Pioneer and said that the Department had even received an application after this recently reformed maneuvering.
No timeline has been set for applying and instead the guideline is akin to permanently institutionalise the approval procedure through the Screening Committee. After following the model guideline only any application would be forwarded to the Government for its nod first at the Cabinet level and later would pave way for legislation to be passed individually in the Assembly.