OFF-CAMPUS CENTRES BY PRIVATE VARSITIES IS VIOLATION OF LAW
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has stated that some state private universities have affiliated colleges and have started offcampus centres in violation of the UGC Establishment of and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities Regulation, 2003, and also against a Supreme Court judgement.
Some of these universities are running the centres on a franchising basis which is not allowed. According to the UGC, private universities cannot have affiliated institutions/colleges. They cannot establish offcampus centres beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the concerned state.
The commission has advised the students and the public to go through UGC’s website carefully and clarify the status of the university before applying for admission in a private university.
Private universities can establish off-campus centres within the concerned state after being in existence for five years and with the prior approval of the University Grants Commission, but so far the UGC has not approved any off-campus centres of any private university.
In an official circular released by the UGC, the commission stated: “It has come to the notice of the UGC that some of the state private universities have affiliated colleges and started off-campus centres in violation of the UGC (Establishment of and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities) Regulation, 2003, and against the judgement of Supreme Court in case of Professor Yashpal and Others vs. State of Chhattisgarh and Others.”
“The public at large and the student community in particular are therefore informed that as per the information available with the UGC as on date, there are 315 Private Universities established by the Acts of the Legislatures of different states. These 315 varisities are competent to award degrees as specified by UGC under Section 22 of the UGC Act with the approval of the statutory councils, wherever required through their main campus. Wherever the approval of the statutory council is not a prerequisite to start a programme, the universities are required to maintain the minimum standards regarding academic.”