New Delhi: In a relief to deemed universities, the University Grants Commission has clarified that they do not require its approval for starting new courses or post-facto clearance.

It was only a few days ago did the UGC write to most of the 103 deemed universities in the country seeking information on the courses they offered and asking them to give an undertaking that they would not start any new programme or vary student intake without its approval.

Reversing its stand, the UGC in its communication dated July 15 (a copy of which is available with The Hindu ) has said its approval is not required for starting new courses. However, the deemed universities will be required to maintain the norms and standards laid down by the statutory councils (such as the All-India Council for Technical Education, and the Medical and Dental Councils of India).

The norms and standards will be open to verification by the UGC and the appropriate councils in terms of the April 5 notification given by the Centre.

On April 5 when the Madras High Court was hearing petitions questioning the AICTE's jurisdiction, the Centre issued the notification clarifying that it was not a pre-requisite for a deemed university to obtain the council's approval for starting any programme in technical or management education. But the UGC would have the power to grant approval and recommend cancellation of the deemed university status if the requirements were not met.

Total exemption

The July 15 communication completely exempts the deemed universities from getting AICTE or UGC approval, prior or post-facto. It says they will be empowered to start B.A., B.Sc., M.A., M.Sc. or M.Com. without prior approval. The only condition is that they should follow the UGC regulations issued from time to time.

Supremacy superseded

Sources said that in 2005, the UGC wrote to the deemed universities seeking details of the programmes they ran and the student intake in each course. But only about 40 of them furnished the details. Subsequently the universities were asked to give an undertaking that they would not start any new course or vary student intake without UGC approval.

The July 15 letter supersedes the 2005 notification on the supremacy of the UGC over the deemed universities.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail