The Supreme Court has initiated a nationwide investigation into how private universities operate across India. It has ordered the Centre and all States and Union Territories, to provide detailed information on how these institutions function, and how they monitored.
Supreme Court seek affidavits of all private, non-government, and deemed universities
A bench consisting of Justices Hassanuddin Amanullah and N V Anjaria issued this directive while addressing a student grievance that has since turned into a significant public interest review of the private higher education sector in India.
The judges stated their intent to look into the origins, governance, and accountability practices of all private, non-government, and deemed universities. Governments now reveal the specific backgrounds and circumstances under which each institution established, including the legal provisions used for their approval, land allotments, concessions, and any other special treatment provided.
Demands complete disclosure
The central demand of the Court’s directive is a clear origin story for each university. Governments must clarify the legal foundation for their establishment, the reasons for their approval, and any benefits or concessions provided, including land grants and related conditions.
The Supreme Court also called for the disclosure of the governing bodies of these institutions and how members are appointed. It is important to prevent power concentration or conflicts of interest.
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