SHILLONG, JUN 12: The University Grant Commission (UGC) has issued advisory to students against seeking admission in private universities in the different states of the country saying it has found that most of these universities have violated the UGC (Establishment and Maintenance of Standards in Private University) Regulation 2003.
At the same time, the UGC also stated that these universities have violated the Supreme Court order by setting up off campus and franchise without permission.
In a public notice issued recently, the Commission has caution the students and their parents to be alert before deciding to get admission in private universities by checking the UGC website.
The UGC has also constituted an expert committee to look into allegations leveled against the CMJ University in Meghalaya following the directives issued by the Governor, RS Mooshahary.
“Most of the universities have started off-campus centres which are in contravention to the UGC (Establishment and Maintenance of Standards in Private University) Regulation 2003 and Supreme order,” UGC secretary observed in the public notice.
Informing that a total of 158 private universities have been passed by State Act of different state governments, the Commission said, “These universities can award degrees as per approval of the UGC under section 22 of the UGC Act after getting the approval of the statutory council.”
However, it maintained that these private universities cannot set up off campus centres beyond the jurisdiction of the state they are established adding that they can only set up off campus after completing five years along with permission from the UGC.
Mentionably, in Meghalaya there are many private universities that have been established through the State Act. These include-Martin Luther Christian University, William Carey University, Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India University, University of Science & Technology. Tehno Global University, CMJ University, Mahatma Gandhi University, Ranjit Lal University and International Open University.
Of these, MLCU has set up three off campus including – Tura Campus and Jowai Campus in 2007 and Nongtalang Campus in 2008 which is only three years after the University was established in Shillong in 2006 which is in violation of the UGC Act.
The expert committee of the UGC headed by Prof BS Sonde as chairman inspected the MLCU and found that the university has violated the UGC Act. In its recommendation to the UGC, the Committee has suggested closure of the three off campuses set up by the MLCU.
Apart from MLCU, the CMJ University has recently been closed down by the CID for similar irregularities of setting up off campuses outside state and country – Ghana and Dewbah in Africa. The National Accreditation Board of Ghana has also dissolute the CMJ University and stopped the enrollment of students in the university. –By Our Reporter
