Centre to derecognise 44 deemed universities, affected students assured support

The HRD ministry has decided to de-recognise as many as 44 "deemed universities", spelling uncertainty for nearly two lakh students who are enrolled with them. The ministry's decision amounts to an acknowlegement of irregularities in conferring the "deemed" tag to these institutions under the first UPA government in which Arjun Singh was the HRD minister.

In what amounts to a virtual indictment of the manner of functioning under of the Human Resources Development (HRD) ministry under the erstwhile HRD minister, Arjun Singh during the earlier tenure of the UPA government, as many as 44 'deemed universities' may be de-recognised as these have fallen short on many requirements that need to be fulfilled for the deemed university status. The 44 'deemed' universities, include one promoted by I&B minister of state S Jagathrakshakan. Also in the 'hit list' are three sponsored by the government, and a few in the NCR.

The institutions were found to be deficient on may considerations from lack of infrastructure to lack of evidence of expertise in the discipline they claim to specialise in.

Though the list does contain names of many universities were conferred the 'deemed' status during the tenure of Arjun Singh's predecessor, Murli Manohar Joshi's time, going by the sheer numbers of names red-pencilled, it is evident that the 'deemed' status was virtually up for grabs during the tenure of Arjun Singh.

Meanwhile, the HRD ministry has assured that the interests of students affected by the decision would be suitably taken care of. According to the ministry's task force institutions not found to fit the 'deemed university' status should "revert to status quo ante as an affiliated college of the state university of jurisdiction so that students would be able to complete their ongoing courses and obtain degree from the affiliating university."

The same would apply to medical and dental colleges not found suitable and the same may affiliate to state university or state medical university.