By Our Reporter
a Chennai-based newspaper on
October 30, 2012
SHILLONG: In a fresh directive to the CMJ University, Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary has asked the University to comply with papers, norms and procedures by June 10 even as the Governor directed the University to refund all the fees charged, together with interest to the students within 15 days of intimation of the students.
“The irregularities and violations clearly amount to mismanagement, mal-administration and failure in the accomplishment of the objectives of the University which attract the provisions of Section 48 of the CMJ University Act, 2009, relating to Dissolution of the University,” Mooshahary said in a representation submitted to CM Jha on Friday.
He pointed out that it is unfortunate that the University through its legal representative has chosen to launch a tirade against the Visitor (Mooshahary) who is making sincere efforts to ensure adherence to the norms of quality education by insisting on corrective measures.
“Problems do not disappear by denials nor can they be resolved by misrepresentations,” the Governor commented.
He further stated that it was a matter of grave concern that the activities of CMJ University have brought discredit to the institutions of higher learning in the State and lowered the image of Meghalaya besides putting the future of students at stake.
“All these adverse actions have eroded the credibility of CMJ University and have shaken the very foundation of its ability to function to achieve its goal of dissemination of higher education,” Mooshahary said.
According to him, the University has not furnished the Annual Accounts, the Balance Sheet and the Audit Report to him as the Visitor of the University which has been clearly specified in Section 46 (4) of the CMJ University Act, 2009.
Informing that the Shillong Engineering and Management College run by the University was de-affiliated by NEHU with effect from the academic session of 2011-2012, Mooshahary said that the college continues to take admissions by misleading the students that the degrees will be issued by the CMJ University.
The Governor directed the University to refrain from issuing misleading advertisements in the print and electronic media in the interest of the student community.
Mooshahary rued that the University has awarded PhD degrees to more individuals in addition to the list of 434 persons adding that the persons who have been awarded the PhD degrees include Bimlesh Kumar Gupta (Punjab), Prof. Venkatesh T Gaddime (Maharashtra) and Lahanya Lahkar, Neetu Basumatary, Achyut Chandra Das, Nagendra Boro, Abu Taleb Ahmed, Gias Uddin Ahmed, Santosh Kumar Sarma, Prasanta Pathak, Khanindra Das, Shona Ullah, Dilip Kumar Baruah, Hari Prasad Kalita, Mukut Khan, Pranab Das, Bibhuti KaIita, Nurul Islam Chakdar and Guptajit Pathak (all from Assam).
“The list of PhD guides provided to this office is misleading. Initially a list of 346 guides as approved by the Faculty Research Committee of CMJ University was provided and subsequently changed,” he said, adding that when he asked for the addresses of the guides for the students who have been awarded PhD, a fresh list of 85 guides was sent.
“We have also received information that some guides in the second list have denied having given their consent,” Mooshahary said.
The Governor directed the University to furnish a fresh list of PhD scholars enrolled and PhD awarded separately with full address and telephone numbers and the amount of fees paid to each.
He also pointed out that the CMJ University is running several off campus centres outside Meghalaya which is not permissible under the UGC (Establishment of and Maintenance of Standards in Private University) Regulations, 2003, and the decision of the Supreme Court (2005) in the case of Prof. Yashpal & another versus State of Chhattisgarh & others.
Moreover, the CMJ University is offering distance education programmes outside the boundaries of Meghalaya and outside India.
“These actions are in gross violation of UGC Regulations and guidelines. They also are contrary to the provisions of Meghalaya Private Universities (Regulation of Establishment and Maintenance of Standards) Act, 2012,” he said.
It may be mentioned that the High Court had earlier upheld the Governor’s direction to CMJ University and had told the legal counsel representing the University that the ‘Court sees no legal infirmity in the actions of the Visitor( Mooshahary)’.
Meanwhile letters are being sent to the Government of Meghalaya and to Governor Mooshahary by concerned parents and guardians from different parts of the country.
A letter sent by a parent from Chennai of which this newspaper has a copy says, “The CMJ University brokers are very active in Chennai and Bhubaneswar. They are giving Ph.D degrees within 2-3 months by taking huge amounts of money. The amount demanded for Ph.D in Engineering discipline is a minimum of Rs 4-5 lakh.
The letter points out that many faculty of private engineering colleges in Chennai have Ph.D degrees from CMJ University.
“I had informed UGC, AICTE, CBI etc., months ago but no one took any action. In Chennai the brokers have earned crores of money by doing this business and nearly 200 faculties of private engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu have a PhD degree from CMJ University. Thanks to the Governor of Meghalaya for his action against such type of malpractices and for saving the nation from great educational damage,” the writer says.