Relief for 44 'deemed unfit' universities?

NEW DELHI: Forty-four universities damned by the Tandon Committee and recommended for stripping of 'deemed' status will now get an opportunity to stay afloat by declaring steps taken by them to put infrastructure in place as needed under rules to deserve the prestigious tag.

Attorney general G E Vahanvati told a Bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma about the decision after consulting HRD minister Kapil Sibal on a two-hour notice from the court.

After the SC turned the heat on deemed universities found woefully lacking in infrastructure, the government had appointed an expert body headed by P N Tandon which evaluated them and put 44 in the category to be stripped of their deemed status while giving 44 others three years to match the infrastructure required for keeping intact their status as deemed universities.

However, the Bench on Tuesday insisted on giving the 44 universities another chance to explain the steps they had taken to improve facilities for higher education. Only 38 deemed universities had passed muster during scrutiny by the Tandon committee.

Hearing a PIL filed by advocate Viplav Sharma, the Bench felt there was scope of elevating some universities from the worst category to a rather better category to save them the ignominy of de-recognition. "Perhaps on a re-evaluation, some of the universities can be elevated to Category Two (with minor deficiencies)," the Bench said.

"Some universities have enjoyed deemed status for more than 20-25 years. Just because they have added two courses, they are being de-recognised. Either you give them time to upgrade their infrastructure or permit them to continue by cancelling these courses, but in the garb of these two-three courses, denuding them of their deemed status will not be fair."

The AG, after consulting the HRD minister, informed the court that the Bench's proposal for giving one more chance to the worst category universities was acceptable to the government.

The court gave the Centre two weeks to issue notices to the 44 worst category universities and another two weeks for them to respond to it.

However, the Bench clarified, "These institutions will be entitled not only to give reply but make a representation on status of deficiencies. Thereafter, each university will be separately heard. Any university still in the worst category will be heard before any action is initiated by the Centre."

The case will be heard on May 3.

Comment: So the people with money can buy degrees and poor people uneducated. This is degradation of Indian higher education system. The school education was already spoiled by removing X CBSE board exams.So where are we headed!

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