M A I N   N E W S

Varsity with 1 prof, 6 lecturers
PU Vice-Chancellor writes to AIU
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 3
Ever heard of a university of science and technology running with one professor and six lecturers? It may sound strange, but it is true in the case of Dr C.V. Raman University of Science, Technology, Commerce Management and Management, Raipur.

The university covers Chattisgarh, and offers distance education too. Another educational institute at Lucknow, which has been granted the status of a deemed university without the concurrence of the UGC, has only two professors, three readers and five lecturers.

In communications to the Association of Indian University (AIU), Dr S.P. Singh and Dr K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University and Panjab University, respectively, have raised objections over the granting of provisional membership to institutes established in violation of UGC norms. They have asked Dr M. Goswamy, secretary-general of AIU, to take up the matter during the forthcoming general house meeting of the association.

Apart from Dr C.V. Raman University, the Vice-Chancellor mentioned ICFAI University, BITS University and Indian University, all with their headquarters at Raipur.

Dr S.P. Singh claimed that there were at least 17 universities or deemed universities in Raipur which was a matter of concern. He said some of these universities had already given franchise in other states, including Punjab.

The demi-official letter of Dr K.N. Pathak reads, “All these universities (four institutes mentioned above) have yet to commence their academic programmes. BITS University, Raipur, is functioning from its camp office in Mumbai and what will be its status in Mumbai is not clear”. He further stated that, “in view of the given situation, there is need to seek the opinion of the UGC before this item is put on the agenda of the next meeting of the standing committee for considering the admission of these Universities as members of the association. It will be better if the matter is considered at the general body meeting instead of standing the panel meeting”.

Echoing similar views, Dr S.P. Singh asked Dr Goswamy to obtain the opinion of the UGC before the item was put up on the agenda.

Dr S.P. Singh alleged that the opening of the universities without proper infrastructure and faculty would play havoc with students. Degrees or certificates issued by such universities would not be recognised at the national or international level, he added.

Responding to the communication of the Vice-Chancellors, Dr Goswamy said: “While appreciating your concern, I would like to stress that the AIU is also concerned about such institutions being member of the association. The association is already seized of the matter”.

The last meeting of the standing committee of the association, however, had already extended the provisional membership of the above university institutions up to December 31. The association has decided to take up the matter at its meeting, scheduled to be held in November.

Though the UGC had already identified 32 universities of the country as “fake”, it has been silent over the opening of new universities which do not fulfil the norms. This happens as senior officials of the UGC or office-bearers of the AIU give them tacit support for certain considerations. For instance, a chairman of the UGC got appointed as Chancellor of a university after his retirement while a secretary-general of the AIU was made Vice-Chancellor of a university after his term was over.