The decision to cancel the ‘deemed university’ status of 44 institutions spread across the country has shocked the 200,000-odd students affected. This is despite the Union government’s assurance that “Every (such) student ...will get a university degree”.
Students at the Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, for instance, damaged computers and boycotted classes. Saveetha University runs seven technical institutes and was declared a deemed university in March 2005. "We have paid over Rs 1 lakh as fees for four years, and this is what we get. Many students have come to Chennai from Bihar and other north-eastern states to study here. Our future is at stake and the management refuses to own responsibility,” rued an agitated student.
Tamil Nadu education minister K Ponmudi told Business Standard the state would wait for the Supreme Court's verdict (the next hearing is on January 25) before he could decide on any course of action. India has around 130 deemed universities. Tamil Nadu ranks number one with 28, with 16 of these in the capital, Chennai. Around 50,000 students are affected.
The Centre has told the apex court the 44 institutions in question were being run as family fiefdoms rather than on academic considerations. The government had filed the affidavit accepting the recommendations of the high-powered P N Tandon committee and a Special Task Force set up to suggest measures to tackle the problem.
On their part, while some institutions said they would approach the Supreme Court for a review, others said they would watch what the apex court has to say on January 25.
Many of the institutions are run by prominent politicians. For instance, D Y Patil College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, was founded and run by D Y Patil, who was made Governor of Tripura last month. Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Satara, was promoted by another Congress party veteran and minister, the late Yashwantrao Mohite.
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In Chennai, the Bharath University was founded by Union minister of state for information S Jagathrakshakan. St Peter’s University was founded by former state education minister M Thambidurai. The Periyar Maniammai University is administered by a trust managed by K Veeramani, leader of the politically active Dravidar Kazhagam.
A brief look at the places affected:
MAHARASHTRA:
Said sources from Tilak Maharashtra University (TMU), Pune: "We have not received any official communication from the government or UGC. Its shocking, because only two months back, the UGC commitee had visited our university and had given us a favourable report."
The government’s minister for higher and technical education, Rajesh Tope, today made a strong pitch for bringing in a mechanism for close monitoring and regular evaluation of deemed universities. “This is urgently needed to see that deemed universities follow norms and regulations of the UGC. Such a monitoring and evaluation should be a done by an independent agency,” the minister told Business Standard.
KARNATAKA:
Six of the 44 universities are here. Said M S Santhosh, joint registrar of Jain University: "The UGC had conducted a review of our college in October 2009 and expressed satisfaction. We are still wondering why we have been included in the list, considering that we offer beyond the parameters of what is required," he said. The institution received its deemed university status in July 2009. It has 3,000 students across its five campuses in Bangalore.
Similarly, Sateesh S Jigjini, vice-chancellor, B L D E University, with 700 students, said: "The inspection report submitted by UGC in October on our university carried no remarks. We cannot understand why we figure in the list, since there are no problems here."
“If the status of a deemed university is withdrawn, colleges will become attached to older state universities. Students will not suffer,” A S Srikanth, principal secretary, department of higher education, told Business Standard.
Many academicians said they were glad. “Some of us put in a lot of investment into our institutions to maintain quality. We have transparency and do not have any management quota. However, some of the deemed universities have not followed this process. We are glad a start has been made. I hope the process is a transparent one," said Anand Sudarshan, MD and CEO of Manipal Education, a private institution.
GUJARAT:
In Gujarat, the only deemed university to be derecognised, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth University, Vadodara, refused to comment. It runs 22 programmes as part of graduate, post-graduate, certificate and PhD courses. According to Ramanlal Vora, Gujarat’s minister of education: “Even earlier, we were against the idea of offering deemed university status to Sumandeep. Now that the Centre is reforming the education sector, we welcome the step and will support it fully. Educational institutions should follow all norms and regulations set by the government."
UTTAR PRADESH:
Four of the 44 derecognised are from the state.
Said the vice-chancellor of UP Technical University, Kripa Shankar: “It is a continuous process for us to evaluate the functioning of our affiliated colleges. However, in future we need to have a more cautious approach.”
Adding: “The interests of students is always protected whenever such decisions are taken. Therefore, I am sure the students would not suffer.” Asked if UPTU would be open to considering affiliation to these four de-recognised institutions, he said Yes, their affiliation could be considered if they applied for it and fulfilled all the laid down norms and processes.
UTTARAKHAND:
Three institutes here are on the list.“We are seeking details from the HRD ministry. But, we will take all measures so that students should not suffer due to this decision,” a top government official said.
Students remained doubtful “I don’t know what will happen,” said a student of Graphic Era, one of the places in question.
No student will suffer, says Sibal
“Not a single student's interests would be jeopardised. Every student of every deemed university will get a university degree,” said Union education minister Kapil Sibal at the 10th Editors Conference on Social Sector Issues here today.
Even as he said this, Sibal said it was for the Supreme Court to decide the course of action. The government, he said, had accepted the findings of the expert committee and set up a task force to suggest how to implement these.
The task force said the failed deemed universities should be allowed to go back as affiliated colleges of their original universities.