SHILLONG: RTI activists and NGOs of the State have made a fresh demand for probe into the functioning of all private universities in the State.
A group of RTI activists and NGO members met Governor RS Mooshahary at Raj Bhavan on Thursday and brought to his notice cases where the private universities in the State have flouted the UGC (establishment of and maintenance of standards in private universities) regulations, 2003, besides other anomalies and corrupt practices.
While appreciating the role of the Governor in uncovering the fraudulent and corrupt practices followed by CMJ University, the NGOs stated that the act of the Governor will remain incomplete if other private universities in Meghalaya are left outside the ambit as some of them are involved in similar practices as CMJ University and/ or blatantly flouting the norms established by the UGC in light of the judgment passed by the Supreme Court.
The delegation also put forth an official complaint based on information gathered through the RTI Act, 2005 about the functioning of all the private universities of Meghalaya constituted by State Acts, and illegal acts committed by them while hoping the Governor takes quick and decisive action against them including recommending dissolution of these universities. The set of demands listed by the delegation included – open and time-bound public enquiry with independent experts into the overall functioning of all private universities in Meghalaya and pending this enquiry suspend the ability of these universities to admit new students; close down all off-campus centers within Meghalaya and outside the State immediately; cancel all the degrees granted by these universities which contravene UGC guidelines about off campus centers, affiliated colleges etc., for financial irregularities; initiate criminal proceedings against the responsible parties; proper mechanism to regulate functioning of these private universities should be instituted with members of the civil society as members which should conduct annual inspection of these institutions and all inspection reports should be made available in the public domain.
The delegation also apprised the Governor of the general improprieties indulged in by these universities which included endowment fund, off campus centres, practice schools, study centres, affiliated colleges, academically dubious PhD degrees, absence of permanent campus and misuse of Government grants by several private universities including Martin Luther Christian University, William Carey University, Mahatma Gandhi University, ICFAI University, University of Technology and Management, University of Science Technology and Management and Techno Global University.