THE Ministry of Education is indifferent about private universities not going to permanent campuses. These institutions, which failed to comply despite repeated ultimatums, were supposed to stop admitting students three and a half years ago. But the UGC did not take any punitive action against the defaulters. Policies of disallowing new department and permission of holding convocations are not followed now as well. As of July 31, 41 private universities have expired but no university renewed licenses and operate from permanent campus.
UGC said that some universities have moved to fully permanent campuses. Some are partially gone. The next decision will be taken based on discussions with the Ministry about the universities which have not taken up permanent campuses and have not taken any initiative to build campuses. Fifty-two universities, established before 2010, have been given several ultimatums to move to permanent campuses that extended to December 2017. That time UGC warned if any university fails to comply, admission into the universities would be suspended. All the bans have been lifted for mysterious reasons.
According to the Private University Act, one has to go to a permanent campus within seven years of establishment. However, if the founding conditions of those who have reached the age of seven years exist and the progress of campus construction activities are satisfactory, there is a directive in the law to extend the term of the temporary certificate based on the application for another five years. Three of the 18 such universities have permanent campuses.
Boards of Trustees (BOTs) of many private universities have Ministers, State Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, and politically influential people. Some of them cause immoral pressure. Due to this, the officials of the Ministry are embarrassed to take action against these universities. As nothing runs by law, and politics controls everything, political decision is required to define the status of the universities.
