New Delhi:
Students at 44 universities across India are worried. (Read: Why are students worried?)
The government has ruled that these are not worthy of their "deemed university" status and should be de-recognised. The Supreme Court has promised the students that no decision will be made in haste. It has also asked the universities to defend their academic calibre.
The case that most of the universities will make is that they were recommended for the much-sought-after "deemed" status by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The tag allows select colleges autonomy - including the right to follow their own syllabus, and decide the fee they will charge students (usually exorbitant). (Read: What is a Deemed University)
If the UGC cleared us, these universities argue, why are we being threatened with de-recognition now? (Read: List of universities to be derecognised by Centre)
Under fire, the UGC says that while it's a government committee that has recommended action against these universities, the UGC will now will reveal its own survey of more than 130 deemed universities before the Supreme Court. A survey that, according to the UGC, is exhaustive.
Unlike the government committee that asked representatives of colleges to appear before it in Delhi, the UGC spent at least two days on each campus assessing their facilities. The Initial findings of the UGC say that while some universities had shortcomings, the government's liberal guidelines meant that the UGC could not de-recognise them
Since 2002, the UGC says, it has been writing to the government to change these. So don't blame us, says the UGC - if unfit universities were not pulled up earlier, it's the government's own fault.
The good news is that the bad publicity is making the UGC more transparent. They now promise that all assessments of all universities - deemed and private - will be put on their website.
The government has ruled that these are not worthy of their "deemed university" status and should be de-recognised. The Supreme Court has promised the students that no decision will be made in haste. It has also asked the universities to defend their academic calibre.
The case that most of the universities will make is that they were recommended for the much-sought-after "deemed" status by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The tag allows select colleges autonomy - including the right to follow their own syllabus, and decide the fee they will charge students (usually exorbitant). (Read: What is a Deemed University)
If the UGC cleared us, these universities argue, why are we being threatened with de-recognition now? (Read: List of universities to be derecognised by Centre)
Under fire, the UGC says that while it's a government committee that has recommended action against these universities, the UGC will now will reveal its own survey of more than 130 deemed universities before the Supreme Court. A survey that, according to the UGC, is exhaustive.
Unlike the government committee that asked representatives of colleges to appear before it in Delhi, the UGC spent at least two days on each campus assessing their facilities. The Initial findings of the UGC say that while some universities had shortcomings, the government's liberal guidelines meant that the UGC could not de-recognise them
Since 2002, the UGC says, it has been writing to the government to change these. So don't blame us, says the UGC - if unfit universities were not pulled up earlier, it's the government's own fault.
The good news is that the bad publicity is making the UGC more transparent. They now promise that all assessments of all universities - deemed and private - will be put on their website.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
