Forty-four universities across the country might lose their deemed university status after the Union ministry of human resource development filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, saying that it intends to cancel their recognition. The decision is based on recommendations of an expert committee set up to review the function of such universities. The committee has said in its report that some of these universities did not meet required standards and that they have to revert to their affiliation with their respective state universities or medical colleges as the case may be, so that students studying in these universities could complete their courses and get their degrees. HRD minister Kapil Sibal has also clarified that no students
will suffer.
Who’s going to be affected? The decision could affect about 2ß00,000 students enrolled in these universities. For students who are undergoing courses that are not offered by the original parent university, the situation becomes trickier.
However, the universities have not got any official intimation on the same. Some universities have also categorically told their students that there is no need to panic. Christ University, Bangalore, one of the affected universities, has put up an official clarification on its website, saying: “As per Section 19 of the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations 2009, no withdrawal of the Deemed University status can be done without seeking a written explanation from the institution concerned after notifying the deficiency and reason for such withdrawal.” M.S. Santosh, joint registrar, Jain University, also expressed the same view, saying that the UGC had expressed satisfaction with the university’s deemed status in October 2009 and whatever the impact of the decision, the university will protect the interest of its students.