Varsities agree to UGC directive, new names soon

THE HRD MINISTRY WILL NOTIFY NEW NAMES OF 14 DEEMEDTOBE INSTITUTIONS, WHICH CARRIED ‘UNIVERSITY’ IN THEIR NAMES EARLIER

NEWDELHI: A day after the University Grants Commission asked a number of deemed-to-be-univerities to drop the word “University” from their names, most of them informed the commission that they will comply.

The revised names of Christ University, Jain University and Yenepoya University removing the word “University” from their title will be notified by the Centre next week, sources said.

The human resource development (HRD) ministry will also notify new names of 11 other deemed-to-be-universities, names of which were notified by the government with the word ‘University’ following grant of deemed tag in past.

The move is in accordance with a recent Supreme Court order. On November 30, Hindustan Times had reported the directions issued by the UGC to the deemed-to-be universities asking them to drop the word “university” from their names.

“Proposals from other institutions, which were notified by the government with the word ‘Uni- versity’ suffixed to their names, are also coming for alternate names. We have receive proposals from many of such institution and hoping to see that remaining institutions submit their proposals today,” official sources said.

Sources said Chandigarhbased PEC University of Technology and Bengaluru’s Christ University have decided to rechristen themselves. The PEC University of Technology has decided to switch back to its former name Punjab Engineering College and the Christ University has decided to use “Christ”. All the institutes were given time until 4pm on Thursday to send compliance report to the UGC.

The UGC had pulled up 123 deemed to be universities, for using “university” in their names and directed them to change the nomenclature within 15 days.