M A I N   N E W S

Fulfil conditions or face closure
by K.G. Dutt
Tribune News Service

KURUKSHETRA, May 11 — Kurukshetra University has given an ultimatum to professional colleges and institutions in Haryana which run courses in engineering, computer science and applications, management and dental sciences etc. to take steps to fulfil the conditions on which they were granted affiliation.

In directions sent by the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Hoshiar Singh, it has been desired that these colleges should improve their position and appoint qualified staff in regular grades within the next one and a half month. The colleges have been told that after the expiry of this period an inspection committee will inspect the colleges. The Vice-Chancellor has warned that if this is not done these institutions will face disaffiliation and will not be allowed to hold admissions for the session 2000-2001.

Dr Hoshiar Singh told TNS that these directions had been issued to improve the quality and standard of education in the engineering colleges. There are about two dozen such colleges in Haryana. A large number of these are being run by private organisations.

The Vice-Chancellor said it was brought to his notice that a number of such institutions running professional courses had not been observing ‘the norms for the maintenance of academic standard for the conduct of the prestigious professional courses allowed to these institutions’.

It had also been found that the respective managements had not yet ensured proper infrastructural facilities with respect to laboratories, equipment, workshops, libraries, hostels, proper class rooms and play grounds. There were complaints that a number of institutions had not made efforts to shift to their own independent buildings. In fact, some of them were housed in rental buildings where academic standards and atmosphere was lacking. There were instances where institutions, given permission to run these courses in certain specific areas were running these courses from other places. For instance, an engineering college which was granted permission to function from Chor Karsa village in Nilokheri block was reported to be functioning from Kurukshetra.

The Vice-Chancellor said it had been brought to his notice that in a number of cases, the professional institutions had not employed qualified staff in the prescribed grades and the appointments had not been made through duly constituted selection committees with the approval of the government. Most of the institutions were without a regular principal. It had been brought to the notice of the university that retired teachers from other colleges/institutions had been employed in such professional colleges in contravention to the university rules. The varsity authorities had received numerous complaints from the parents of the students regarding the lack of facilities and duly qualified staff in these institutions.

The Vice-Chancellor maintained that the varsity had taken a very serious view of the prevailing situation as it concerned the career of hundreds of students admitted to different courses in these institutions.

The university, therefore, had directed these institutes to satisfy the inspection committees with documentary proof that they were in the process of shifting to their own independent premises in the coming session.

The varsity had brought this to the notice of the Director, Technical Education, Director, Health Services, secretary generals of the governing bodies of these institutions as well as principals and directors of the governing bodies of these institutions.