Shimla: Having set up the country’s first education regulator to uphold academic standards in newly set up private universities notwithstanding, it is Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which has stumbled upon glaring irregularities in running of these institutions, sources revealed.
The premier investigating agency has been entrusted the task by the High Court of looking into functioning of all private education institutions of higher learning as to whether they had been duly authorized by appropriate boards or councils for offering the courses and degrees that have countrywide recognition.
Given three months to put the facts before the court in second week of November, sources disclosed that several shortcomings, like institutions not having adequate infrastructure to run certain courses, shorting comings in qualified faculties and courses and degrees not having due recognition by approved regulatory councils have been found by the investigating agency.
When contacted CBI incharge for Shimla, SP Upasak, “As of now no case has been registered.â€
Refusing to disclose anything about the ongoing investigation, he said the report would be submitted to the court after all the information is collected and it is verified by inspecting the institutes.
Before the court ordered the investigation, CBI had even brought it to the notice of the judges that several institutions that had obtained no objection certificates from National Council for Technical Education did not have proper buildings.
Gross irregularities in admission processes have also been noticed by the higher education department. An inspection report of 11th August, 2011 has asked certain universities to desist from taking in admissions to certain professional courses without providing adequately qualified faculty and also not before obtaining permission from the regulatory body.
One private university in Solan area had even flouted admission norms to the extent that it had started a language course two months before it was officially notified as a University.
Whereas no private autonomous colleges have been established in the state but since 2007, the Himachal government has given permission for setting up 11 private universities through an act passed in the Vidhan Sabha.
Functioning of some of them has drawn flak from educationists, students bodies as well as congress, the main opposition party in the state.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
“intention was good,path seems to be wrong and future is darker”. Govt step to have higher education in himachal was good idea but private universities grown as business houses.Hope high court’s judgement will benefit aspirants.