During the first term of the UPA government headed by Manmohan Singh, in which Arjun Singh was the HRD Minister, many colleges were given Deemed University status recklesslessly. Obviously corruption was involved and this could not have happened without the knowledge of the Minister and the UGC officials. Blatant misuse of authority and corruption by UGC officials were cited by many then.
A Public Interest Litigation was filed asking whether the Government had any policy in allocating Deemed University Status. Government was eloquently silent for 3 years and finally has bitten the bullet,
The Centre purportedly reviewed 126 deemed universities across the country. While 38 deemed universities were found to be doing a good job, 44 others have been given three years to improve. The remaining 44 were found completely unfit. The list of unfit deemed universities include the Devraj Urs University in Karnataka, DY Patil University in Maharashtra, the Manav Rachna Institute in Gurgaon and the Savita Institute and Vinayaka Mission in Tamil Nadu.
The Government has finally decided to de-recognize these 44 Universities. This action affects nearly 2 lakhs students, though the Government has assured that all the students shall get the degree from the University to which these colleges will now be accredited. That is no solace. These students have paid huge capitation fee to get admission, and the stigma of having studied in such a rogue institution will adversely affect their career.
The saddest part is that no one involved is being punished. All the guilty, including the Minister, UGC officials, the Deemed University owners have gone scot free. Everyone has made money, the poor Government University is now footing the bills of this misadventure (that means the tax payers) and no one is wiser.
Till such time our justice system improves and guilty are punished, these kinds of scams will multiply
