SC gives ‘deemed’ universities a breather

Forty-four universities that had been recommended for withdrawal of 'deemed' status have now been permitted to continue functioning on declaration of steps they have taken to put infrastructure in place as required under the rules.

Attorney general G E Vahanvati told a bench comprising of justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma about the decision after consultations with HRD minister Kapil Sibal on a two-hour notice from the court.

The Supreme Court had taken a strong note of the lack of infrastructure in a number of universities following which the government had appointed an expert body under P N Tandon for their evaluation. The body classified 44 universities as fit for being stripped of their classified status while giving 44 others three years to match the infrastructure for retaining their deemed status.

However, the bench yesterday insisted on extending the universities another chance to explain the steps they had taken to improve facilities for higher education.

Hearing a PIL filed by advocate Viplav Sharma, the bench observed there was scope for elevation of some universities from the worst category to a somewhat better category to help them avoid de-recognition.

 "Perhaps on a re-evaluation, some of the universities can be elevated to Category Two (with minor deficiencies)," the bench said.