Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Science and Technology and Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, both in Tamil Nadu, were rejected initially for the status of deemed university in view of "certain deficiencies".

However, both the institutes were given the status within months by the government. "The proposals relating to the grant of status of deemed university to these institutions were rejected on the ground of certain deficiencies. These institutions were later declared deemed universities after they rectified the deficiencies," a HRD Ministry official said.

The Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Science and Technology, Thanjavur, was given the deemed status on January 4, 2008, while the Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, was conferred with the status on October 15, 2008.

The two deemed universities are among those found unworthy for the status by a government-appointed expert committee. The government has accepted the findings and submitted them to the Supreme Court. When contacted, Vel Tech Rangarajan Institute declined to comment while Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute could not be reached.

Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Science and Technology offers courses in science and humanities, education, engineering and technology. Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology offers courses in engineering, management, computer science and humanities.

The expert committee, headed by P N Tandon, said 44 deemed universities did not deserve the status. The committee found 44 other such institutes having deficiencies and suggested that they should be given three years time to rectify. It found 38 others up to the mark.

Meanwhile, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a circular to all the deemed universities, saying that those institutions which have got accreditation of National Accreditation and Assessment Council with B-Grade will be able to open off-campuses and off-shore campuses.

"The Commission considered the issue relating to accreditation of deemed to be universities before applying for bringing an existing institution under its ambit or off-campus or off-shore campus and decided that such institutions should have at least B-Grade from NAAC assessment," the circular said.