EPSI welcomes SC decision of status quo on Deemed Universities
Arbitrary action harms thousands of students; affects India's reputation in education, says EPSI
Tweet-- The Supreme Court on Monday restrained the Central government while allowing an application for impleadment after universities questioned the Government's move. The SC also directed the authorities to report to the Court within two weeks and ordered status quo as of 25 January, adjourning the case to March 8. The Education Promotion Society for India (EPSI) welcomed the Supreme Court's decision.
The SC assured the aggrieved universities that no adverse order would be passed without hearing them as the issue not only involved several institutions but also the fate of thousands of affected students. The Court directed the Government to submit the report of the Review Committee and the Task Force based on which the HRD Ministry had decided to derecognise these universities within 2 weeks and in the meanwhile maintain status quo as on today. It also directed the State Governments to render assistance in the proceedings.
The Court's ruling was also welcomed by various Deemed Universities. In this regard, the EPSI plans to submit a letter to the Hon'ble Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, drawing his attention to the grave concerns of the EPSI members.
The EPSI highlights the fact that the Deemed Universities have been rendering yeoman service to the cause of education and contributing positively in raising the standard of education in India. This is particularly important given the problems of inadequate infrastructure and shortage of trained personnel faced by educational institutions. With the Government facing financial constraints and other problems in the education sector, the contribution of private unaided universities should be appreciated in imparting higher education to a large number of youth in India.
Hasty acceptance of the adverse recommendation of the Task Force also undermined the importance, power and functions of the University Grants Commission. It is important to note that the Tandon Committee, later converted to the Task Force, had merely called upon the Deemed Universities to make a presentation about their university in 10 points by giving each university about ten minutes each. Merely hearing 126 universities in four sittings/days during normal working hours without scrutinising the relevant documents of audits and accounts and checking the infrastructure and other facilities provided and analysing the standard of education imparted by each Deemed University was a travesty of justice.
The EPSI also welcomed the apex court's directive that a copy of the Task Force Report should be provided to the derecognised Deemed Universities.