Last updated:
While hearing the case Ayesha Jain vs Union of India, the Supreme Court took note of several complaints regarding the functioning of private universities across the country.
The Supreme Court had asked the state governments to inspect and file affidavits explaining the rationale behind the establishment of these universities, the admission process, governance and financial practices.
The Telangana government has initiated a comprehensive review of private universities following directions from the Supreme Court, which had sought detailed information on how these institutions were established, how they function and whether they comply with legal and academic standards.
The court’s directions came during the hearing of the case Ayesha Jain vs Union of India, during which it took note of several complaints regarding the functioning of private universities across the country. It asked state governments to conduct detailed inspections and submit affidavits explaining everything from the rationale behind the establishment of these universities to their admission process, administration and financial practices.
Telangana formed high level committee
To carry out this exercise, the Telangana government has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the Commissioner of Collegiate Education.
The panel comprises the Secretary of Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE), Registrar of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Registrar of Palamuru University, Chief Finance and Accounts Officer of Osmania University and Assistant Director (Academic-C) of the Department of Technical Education. The committee has also been authorized to appoint subject experts as and when required.
The team has started inspection of private universities across the state and will examine them on nine parameters laid down by the Supreme Court.
What is the Supreme Court looking at?
The Supreme Court has sought detailed information on whether private universities are functioning in accordance with the law and fulfilling the purposes for which they were established.
The court has asked the state government to investigate the following:
Why was the university established? The committee has been asked to determine the reasons behind the establishment of each university, whether a feasibility study or policy assessment was previously conducted, and whether the institution was established with clearly defined educational objectives.
Was government land or financial assistance provided? The court has sought information on whether the state has allotted land or provided any other benefits to private universities, along with the terms and conditions attached to such support.
Who actually controls the university? The Committee will examine the ownership and governance structure of each institution, including details of the managing society or trust, the members of the governing body and the process through which they were appointed.
Are admissions being done legally? Inspectors have been asked to verify whether the admission processes, eligibility criteria and admission procedures comply with applicable laws and whether they have been approved by the State Government.
Were faculty appointments made as per UGC norms? The inquiry will also review how the teaching staff were recruited, whether proper selection committees were constituted and whether the appointments were made as per University Grants Commission (UGC) rules.
Is there any effective government oversight? The Supreme Court wants to know whether the state has inspection mechanisms to monitor private universities, how often inspections are conducted, whether violations have been detected and what action has been taken against institutions violating rules.
Are private universities working on ‘no-profit, no-loss’ basis? One of the major areas of investigation is the financial functioning of private universities. The committee will examine whether institutions claiming to work on a “no-profit, no-loss” model are actually following that principle.
It will also investigate whether university funds have been used for personal use, including payments to the founders or their family members, acquisition of property or other expenses. The Supreme Court has sought details of financial audit and action taken in cases of irregularities.
Do universities have a grievance redressal system? The panel will verify whether universities have functional grievance redressal mechanisms for students and teachers, the composition of these committees, the number of complaints received and how they were resolved.
Are faculty members being paid fairly? The inspection will also assess whether teaching staff are paid as per legal requirements and UGC rules, and whether salary records reveal any violations.
what happens next?
The Inspection Committee will compile its findings into a comprehensive report, based not only on these nine issues but also on any other irregularities identified during the inspection.
Based on the report, Telangana government will file a detailed affidavit in the Supreme Court. The court is expected to decide the next course of action after reviewing the state’s findings.
The exercise could have wide-ranging implications for the regulation of private universities, as the Supreme Court’s directions apply to states across the country and demand greater accountability in higher education administration.
The Supreme Court has directed states across the country to provide greater accountability in higher education administration, prompting Telangana to review private universities. This action could have wide-ranging implications for private university regulation.
About the author
The news desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who chronicle and analyze the most important events happening in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers…read more
stay ahead, read fast
Scan the QR code to download the News18 app and enjoy a seamless news experience anytime, anywhere.
