Edu-leaders

The opposition Congress has criticised the state government over functioning of private professional universities and colleges in Himachal Pradesh.

Participating in the debate over the state budget, state Congress president Kaul Singh said seven of the 10 universities in Himachal Pradesh have come under the scanner of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

"In the last three years, the state government has allowed 10 private universities to set up bases in the state. But only two of them fulfil the eligibility criteria laid down by the UGC and the rest of them have not been recognised by it," Singh said in the assembly.

"It's a sad state of affairs that the government has been promoting private educational institutions at the cost of (state-run) Himachal Pradesh University (Shimla). It has been bent upon commercialisation of education," he said.

The government has also allowed eight private colleges to run management courses, eight pharmaceutical colleges, two law colleges and 16 nursing colleges.

"Out of the 10 private universities, only two - Jaypee University of Information Technology and the Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences - have been recognised by the UGC," Singh added.

According to UGC website, the seven registered but unrecognised universities in Himachal Pradesh are - Chitkara University, Eternal University, Indus International University, Arni University, Manav Bharti University, Baddi University of Emerging Science and Technology, and Maharishi Markandeshwar University. These universities have not even supplied the information sought by the UGC for inspection.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal also admitted in the assembly that a Punjab-based Rayat Bahra University, which is setting up its campus in the state, has violated environmental norms.

He said the government has observed violations as university authorities flattened a hill by 10 metres against the permissible limit of 3.5 metres.

"Cognizance of this offence has been taken by the Special Area Development Authority of Kandaghat and a notice has been issued under the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act of 1977,” Dhumal said.

Source: igovernment