The 44 institutions which will lose their deemed varsity status have violated the guidelines prescribing excellence in teaching and research or innovations, and introduced unrelated degree programmes beyond the mandate of the grant of the status, the Centre asserted on Monday.
In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the Centre said the Prof. Tandon Committee found that with the notable exception of some publicly funded institutions, none of them could produce evidence of quality research, going by publications in leading journals.
Many institutions, which attained the deemed university status from being colleges, increased their intake disproportionately and, in some cases, exponentially in relation to the qualified faculty strength and academic infrastructure. Several institutions have prescribed fees considerably higher than that recommended by official committees.
The Tandon Committee concluded that 38 institutions justified their continuance as deemed universities; 44 were found deficient and the shortcomings needed to be rectified over a three-year period, and 44 others did not have the attributes to continue as deemed universities.
The decision on according affiliation to and registering students enrolled in the 44 institutions with the relevant State university for the purpose of award of degrees would be taken up in consultation with the State governments.
Regarding foreign institutions, the affidavit said: “The Centre is in the process of finalising a legislative proposal for regulating the entry and operations of foreign education providers and the same has to be introduced in Parliament after obtaining necessary approval within the government.”
The Centre was awaiting the final report of the Task Force on the draft regulations submitted by the University Grants Commission for declaring institutions deemed universities. The guidelines, after consideration by the Centre, would be conveyed to the UGC for being notified, the affidavit said.
The matter comes up for further hearing on January 25.
