Coimbatore, Nov. 12: The writ petition of the Association of Self-Financing Arts, Science and Management Colleges of Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore, seeking closure of the two off-campuses of Karunya University at Perianaickenpalayam and Lakshmi Mills junction will come up for hearing on November 13 at the Madras High Court.
The Association has sought closure based on a RTI response from the University Grants Commission (UGC) that the university enjoyed ‘B’ category status and that the campuses were established without permission.
The hearing gains significance in the light of the fact that the deadline given to Karunya University by the UGC to “submit compliance” regarding “further continuation yet to be granted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development” came to an end on Friday (November 10, 2017).
A Gazette of India publication dated June 23, 2004, reads: “The Central Government on the advice of the University Grants Commission hereby declare the Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, as Deemed to be University.....with immediate effect subject to a review after three years”. This means that the status should have been reviewed and renewed after 2007.
A communication dated October 10, 2017, from Kundla Mahajan, Under Secretary of the UGC to the Registrar, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, has mentioned that “institutions deemed to be universities placed under Category ‘B’ by Tandon Committee including Karunya, cannot expand their activities at present. The expansion includes starting of new centres, new departments, new courses, off-campuses, etc”.
“This is also to mention that Karunya was granted deemed to be university status for three years for the period from 23/06/2004 to 22/06/2007 and further continuation is yet to be granted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). In view of the above, you are hereby directed to immediately discontinue the centres and courses started without the approval of UGC. Degrees awarded by the deemed to be university to the students studying in such centres and courses will not be treated as valid by the UGC for the purpose of higher studies and employment,” the letter adds.
“The deemed to be university to submit compliance in respect of the above within one month of the receipt of the UGC letter,” so ends the communication.
The above communication is expected to have a bearing on the Monday hearing that would reflect on the future of the institutions and those studying there.
The Association has sought closure based on a RTI response from the University Grants Commission (UGC) that the university enjoyed ‘B’ category status and that the campuses were established without permission.
The hearing gains significance in the light of the fact that the deadline given to Karunya University by the UGC to “submit compliance” regarding “further continuation yet to be granted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development” came to an end on Friday (November 10, 2017).
A Gazette of India publication dated June 23, 2004, reads: “The Central Government on the advice of the University Grants Commission hereby declare the Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, as Deemed to be University.....with immediate effect subject to a review after three years”. This means that the status should have been reviewed and renewed after 2007.
A communication dated October 10, 2017, from Kundla Mahajan, Under Secretary of the UGC to the Registrar, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, has mentioned that “institutions deemed to be universities placed under Category ‘B’ by Tandon Committee including Karunya, cannot expand their activities at present. The expansion includes starting of new centres, new departments, new courses, off-campuses, etc”.
“This is also to mention that Karunya was granted deemed to be university status for three years for the period from 23/06/2004 to 22/06/2007 and further continuation is yet to be granted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). In view of the above, you are hereby directed to immediately discontinue the centres and courses started without the approval of UGC. Degrees awarded by the deemed to be university to the students studying in such centres and courses will not be treated as valid by the UGC for the purpose of higher studies and employment,” the letter adds.
“The deemed to be university to submit compliance in respect of the above within one month of the receipt of the UGC letter,” so ends the communication.
The above communication is expected to have a bearing on the Monday hearing that would reflect on the future of the institutions and those studying there.