M A I N   N E W S

Deemed Varsity Issue
No student will suffer, says Sibal
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News service

“The government’s intention is clear — not a single student should be adversely affected pursuant to the findings of the taskforce which looked at the recommendations of the review committee we had set up to judge the performance of deemed universities in the country. We have told the court that we accept the committee recommendations. Rest is for the court to decide,” Sibal said, adding that the deemed concept should ultimately go.

The government is in the process of finalising a legislation to prevent malpractices in education and the issue of deemed universities would be dealt with therein, the minister said. The Yashpal Committee on higher education reforms had recommended the end of deemed varsity era. That apart, the process of stripping 44 deemed universities which the P.N. Tandon committee termed as deficient to continue as deemed, is set to start in the Ministry of HRD. Top officials today confirmed to The Tribune that show-cause notices would be issued for the purpose and the process set into motion to see how best the students’ interests could be protected.

No blacklisted university would, however, be shut down, as erroneously conveyed in sections of the media. “The government has accepted in principle that 44 deemed universities do not have the wherewithal to continue as such. To that extent, they must not function as deemed. As suggested by the taskforce, they will be asked to seek affiliation to the respective state universities so that students continue with their courses and get their degrees,” a senior HRD official clarified.

To make affiliation easier, the government will also take the political route and write to state governors, chief ministers, and the universities of jurisdiction of the blacklisted deemed varsities, to help in the matter. After the 44 varsities in question lose their deemed status, they would revert to their positions as colleges affiliated to their respective state university.

For example, Manav Rachna International University in Faridabad can seek affiliation to Maharishi Dayanand University, and Maharishi Markandeshwar University of Ambala can affiliate with Kurukshetra University.

The UGC will be asked to coordinate the entire effort to ensure students’ welfare. “We may also look at the possibility of the UGC granting incentive to state universities to absorb the extra load in the wake of deemed varsities returning as affiliates,” top HRD sources said. In any case, affiliation should not be a problem considering state universities would make money in return for the affiliation they grant. Affiliation fee ranges from Rs 3 lakh to 7 lakh per course, depending on the nature of the course.

States must take charge

The government today said the decision to accord affiliation and register students in the 44 institutions which will lose deemed status with the relevant state university for the purpose of award of degrees comes under the purview of the state governments. The centre does not have any direct control over state universities except for maintenance of academic standards through the UGC. In this case, however, the government will write to state heads to ensure students get degrees and varsities stripped of deemed status get affiliations.