Centre told to relook on blacklisting of 44 deemed university

The fate of 44 deemed universities, which were recommended to be blacklisted by the Centre, hangs in the balance with the Supreme Court directing the government to take a fresh look at them after taking advice from the UGC.
The apex court directed the Commission to examine all the reports on their failure to fulfil the criteria within two months and tender its advice to the Centre which will take a final call on the issue.
"We feel it appropriate to give a direction to the UGC to examine all the reports, with notice to all the 44 institutions concerned. Institutions are free to raise their objections against the reports and the UGC has to consider the same and take an independent decision in accordance with law, if necessary, after affording a hearing, within a period of two months from today.

"UGC has then to tender its advice to the Central Government with its report. Needless to say that the advice of the UGC is not binding on the Union of India but has to be given due weight since the UGC is an expert statutory authority," a bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and Vikramajit Sen said in their judgement.
It, however, made it clear that it has not given its stamp of approval to any of the reports pertaining to the Universities and it is for the UGC to consider all reports.
The HRD ministry, which has sought denotification of 44 deemed universities, had earlier assured the Supreme Court thet it will put in place a suitable mechanism to ensure that the future of students is not affected.