SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Cabinet on Wednesday imposed a restriction on eight self-financing private universities in the State from opening and running off- campus centres.
The Cabinet, while amending the Private Universities Bill, has further restricted any college from affiliating themselves with these private universities.
The eight private universities include the CMJ University, Martin Luther Christian University, Mahatma Gandhi University, Techno Global University, Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India University, University of Science & Technology,University of Technology & Management and the William Carey University.
Following the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Education Minister Prof RC Laloo informed media persons that the private universities which are already running off-campus centres should immediately close their operation.
As per the norms laid down by the University Grants Commission (UGC), a private university can neither affiliate any institution/college nor establish off-campus centre(s) beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the concerned State.
However, the UGC permits establishment of off-campus centre(s) within the territorial jurisdiction of the concerned state after five years of their existence and with prior approval of the Commission.