Supreme Court Delays Gov action on Deemed Universities

In an interim order India's Supreme Court last Monday restrained the central government from acting against 'deemed' universities facing de-recognition. The court asked the government to furnish a clear programme to protect the interests of nearly 200,000 students at 44 universities whose prospects are in limbo following the de-recognition move.

The court directed the government to place on record reports of a high-powered review committee and task force whose findings prompted a decision to de-recognise 44 deemed universities across the country that it said were lacking infrastructure and being run as family fiefdoms.

The court also directed the government to detail how it proposed to safeguard the interests of students at the affected universities, and sought an earlier report of the University Grants Commission on the basis of which 'erring' colleges were granted 'deemed' status [which awards some institutions greater autonomy than others]. The matter was posted for further hearing on 8 March.