Deemed varsities need govt stamp for off-campus centres

All deemed-to-be-universities may have to obtain prior approval of the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry for opening off-campus centres.

The higher education department of the ministry has moved a proposal in this regard.

The move was initiated after the University Grants Commission (UGC) gave a free hand to the deemed-to-be-universities to open off-campus centres under a recent regulation for the grant of graded autonomy to the higher education institutions.

The graded autonomy regulations, notified on February 12, stipulate that the deemed-to-be-universities will not have to obtain the approval of the UGC for opening any off-campus centres even though the UGC never had powers to approve such proposals.

The power to approve proposals for off-campus centres always remained with the HRD ministry. The role of the UGC was limited to giving advise to the ministry on such proposals.

"How can UGC take away the powers of the ministry? A proposal has been moved to notify that all deemed-to-be-universities will continue to obtain a prior approval of the ministry to open off-campus centres," official sources said.

The proposal is currently under consideration of HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar.

"Once the minister approves the proposal, it will be notified," sources said.

Though the higher education department wants to retain its role in the opening of off-campus centres by the deemed-to-be-universities, sources said, the process for grant of such permission has been proposed to be simplified.