They are increasing their infrastructure spending even as the apex court is yet to deliver a verdict.
In the first week of August, the Supreme Court will continue its hearing in the case which relates to the future of 44 blacklisted deemed universities. The prospects of around 200,000 students studying in these institutions are at stake. However, even as the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) prepares its case to be presented before the Apex court, many deemed universities appear unperturbed - they are spending on infrastructure, and increasing the number of courses they offer.
Take the case of the Vadodara-based Sumandeep Vidyapeeth University (SVU) — the only deemed university from Gujarat that made to the list. “We are not going to bother about the case anymore. We have anyway been fulfiling the criteria of the likes of the Dental Council and the Medical Council,” says N N Shah, the registrar. The university has six colleges and 1,600 students. While the institute does not plan to increase the number of students this year, it would do so next year.
Likewise, Sumandeep College of Nursing under the university is expanding its premises by adding a new building. “Ever since the apex court allowed the continuation of admission process at the deemed universities, we have been focusing on smooth functioning and expansion in terms of seats and infrastructure,” says Jayshree Mehta, vice chancellor of SVU. Apart from nursing, SVU houses five other institutes including SBKS Medical Institute and Research Centre, K M Shah Dental College and Hospital, K J Pandya College of Physiotherapy, Pharmacy College and School of Management.
On May 6 this year, the Supreme Court had allowed the 44 'blacklisted' deemed universities to continue with fresh admissions for the current academic year. Since then, over 50 per cent of these deemed universities, have seen admissions in full swing. The apex court reasoned it could not pass any such injunction order against fresh admissions to these universities as the validity of the very constitution of the high-powered Tondon Committee was under challenge.
Experts tracking developments on the matter are of the opinion that the deemed universities should be given a chance considering that India is short of universities.
“It’s business as usual for these universities and it would remain so. Admissions are either over or are still on. Any government in its right sense can’t do away with such number of universities when it has to meet the target of 1,500 universities but has only 400 operational. Many of these universities have some good fundamentals in place and also a reputation in the market. They have been blacklisted for non-compliance in certain matters. They can be given time to better their infrastructure and curriculum rather than dragging them to courts," says a Chennai-based analyst tracking the sector.
At the Bangalore-based Jain University, an international academic collaboration is taking shape. The university is in the process of setting up a fire safety laboratory with the help of the US-based Underwriters Laboratory. Spread across an area of 3.5-4 lakh square feet, the laboratory will be set up at an investment of Rs 70 crore. Under-graduate courses at the university have begun with the seats already full. Admissions for the PG courses are also on.
The university, apart from filing a writ petition on its own in May, has chosen not take any further steps to prove its eligibility as a deemed university.
Says M S Santosh, joint registrar of Jain University, "We had filed a writ petition in May with the Supreme Court challenging the government's decision. The hearing took place on July 8 wherein the apex court asked for the Centre's response. However, the yardstick we have adopted has always been at par with the criteria set by the Centre. Therefore, there is no window dressing we are trying to to impress upon the Centre or Supreme Court."
"With the authority of the Tondon committee itself being challenged, what case does the MHRD have? If the MHRD really wants to do better for the education sector, it should bring in a regulation for of deemed universities. Many of these 'blacklisted' universities have National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) ratings in place. How can the MHRD question that," says the Vice Chancellor of a Chennai-based University.
The review committee headed by Professor P N Tondon had earlier recommended de-recognition of the 44 institutes on the ground that they failed to meet the standards required for sustaining status of a "deemed" university. There are allegations that Professor Tondon himself was heading a deemed university and it was not appropriate for him to head the high-powered committee which sought de-recognition of the aggrieved universities.
The review panel found 88 institutions unfit for the status and divided these into two categories. The panel later found out that 44 of these institutions potentially capable of meriting the tag and suggested they be given a time period of three years to improve standards. The remaining 44 institutions were found incapable of attaining standards required of deemed university status by the panel, which recommended that these universities by stripped of their status.
Following the report's findings, the Centre in its affidavit filed in the Supreme Court (this January) said it would strip the deemed university tag off 44 educational institutions across the country. Around 2,00,000 students are enrolled in these universities at present. The Centre told the apex court that these universities 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 Tondon committee and the Special Task Force set up to suggest measures to tackle the problem. Kapil Sibal, the HRD minister had assured students they would not suffer.
These universities on their part, had expressed their dissatisfaction at the lack of clarity on the parameters used to draw up the list of universities. Later, in March, the Supreme Court gave temporary relief to these students by directing the government to maintain status quo on these 44 deemed universities facing derecognition. The court also issued notices to all these universities to file their response on the government's decision to derecognise them.
While lawyers representing the case refused to comment on the matter as it was subjudice, legal experts said if these universities were expanding their premises and courses offered, they were doing it at their own risk.
