Follow Us
Shahira Naim
Tribune News Service
Lucknow, June 19
The Yogi Adityanath government is proposing to tighten its hold on private universities in Uttar Pradesh, with the Cabinet clearing the draft for a law to sanitise private universities from any “anti-national activity” on campuses.
The UP Private Universities Ordinance is an umbrella Act covering the 27 private universities in the state. These would have to submit an undertaking that they would not allow such activities to take place. However, the draft does not clarify what qualifies as anti-national activities.
National integration, secularism, social harmony, international goodwill, moral building, and “desh bhakti” have been included among the objectives of the ordinance.
A government representative would be on the governing body of the universities. The provisions arm the government with powers to keep a check on the financial and academic activities of private universities. The ordinance is to be presented in the Assembly when its session begins on July 18.
All private universities will also have to abide by the academic calendar as established by various controlling bodies to “remove anomalies”.
It is proposed that a minimum of 75 per cent of teachers would be permanent and not contractual and their quality would be monitored online.
A university in a city would need to have a minimum land space of 20 acres, while in rural areas they would need to be spread over 50 acres. The ordinance also makes it mandatory for universities not to bestow any honorary degree without prior approval of the government.
The Chancellor does not get a free hand in the appointment of a Vice-Chancellor as this can now be done only in consultation with the governing body.
The council, as per the ordinance, will inspect a university at least once a year. If any violation is found, the government will issue instructions that will be mandatory for the university to follow.
Taking Control
2