Brief respite for deemed varsities

In a breather to seven 'C' category deemed universities, University Grants Commission (UGC) has given them one more year to rectify their deficiencies failing which they could face the possibility of denotification.

These universities were identified from among 41 'C' category deemed universities by an expert panel as they lacked the requisite infrastructure and faculty strength. "After detailed deliberations, UGC decided to give them a final opportunity for rectifying their deficiencies within a maximum period of one year and submit the compliance report within that time, failing which recommendation for the denotification of their status would be made to HRD Ministry," UGC resolved recently at a full meeting. Supreme Court, which has been monitoring the case, had directed UGC to inspect eight such universities which were said to be lacking in terms of the criteria for deemed universities.

The apex court had last year directed UGC to examine all the reports of the 41 deemed universities and advise the central government. These universities had gone to Supreme Court after they were put in the 'C' category in 2009 by the Tandon Committee.

Upon Supreme Court's direction, a committee was set up under UGC vice chairperson H Devaraj which heard all the 41 deemed universities separately. The universities, which were examined on nine parameters, scored poorly in several of them.

Some of the parameters were conformity to the provisions of the UGC Act and UGC guidelines, aspects of governance, quality of and innovation in teachinglearning process, research output, doctoral and other research degree programme, faculty resources, admission processes and award of degrees.