In order to tighten noose around Private Universities in the state, the Cabinet today approved UP Privately Funded Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Ordinance-2009. Chief Minister Mayawati chaired the Cabinet meeting. It would in fact be an umbrella Act to govern the private universities.
According to information the proposed law would be applicable on existing private universities also. Sources said during the cabinet meeting few ministers had reservation over the plan to bring existing universities under the new law. Sources said they were of the opinion that “this clause should be deleted as it may unnecessary lead to litigation”. But their objections were overruled.
While state universities are governed under UP State Universities Act 1973, the state assembly passed individual bill from time to time for the establishment of each private university. But under the new law the government would issue only notification for the setting up of a private university.
Sources in Higher Education department said “Minorities education institution, like Integral University Lucknow, which is also governed by an Act of UP assembly, would not be covered under new law”.
Under the proposed law any organization planning to set up university would at least have to set up four faculties up to research level. While at least 50 acres of land would be mandatory for this purpose 30 acre should be at one place and remaining 20 acre with in the limit of five km. The organization would have to pledge a fund of Rs ten crore with the government. The government would have the power to evaluate all the departments of the university.
{{/usCountry}}Under the proposed law any organization planning to set up university would at least have to set up four faculties up to research level. While at least 50 acres of land would be mandatory for this purpose 30 acre should be at one place and remaining 20 acre with in the limit of five km. The organization would have to pledge a fund of Rs ten crore with the government. The government would have the power to evaluate all the departments of the university.
{{/usCountry}}The issue to properly regulate private universities came up for thorough discussion at meeting of officers of higher education department with the Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh, Chief Secretary AK Gupta and additional Cabinet secretary Vijay Shankar Pandey here on October 14, 2009. Mayawati later said that an umbrella act was necessary to improve academic atmosphere in campuses. The officers at the meeting expressed concern over prevailing situation in almost all the private universities. Thus bringing them under the proposed law is aimed at taming these universities.