Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Aug 16: Amid growing concerns over paper leaks, invalid degrees, opaque admission procedures and excessive or unaccounted fees putting students' academic futures at risk, the Maharashtra government has decided to review the rules governing private universities in the state.
A government order issued on Aug 14 has appointed a committee to review the existing criteria for establishing private universities and recommend changes aimed at strengthening their regulation, infrastructure and academic standards.
The committee has been given two months to submit its report to the government. Its recommendations could eventually lead to amendments to the Maharashtra Private Universities Act, 2023, and the rules framed under it.
The panel will be headed by Professor Bhushan Patwardhan, former vice-chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and vice-chancellor of Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Pune. Former Savitribai Phule Pune University vice-chancellor Professor Nitin Karmalkar and senior officials from the higher education and technical education departments are among the members.
The government said the existing criteria already prescribe requirements related to land, buildings, laboratories, libraries, digital facilities and other infrastructure. However, it acknowledged that shortcomings have emerged in the present system and that the criteria need to be updated to reflect current requirements.
The committee will examine whether private universities have adequate infrastructure not only for classrooms and academic activities but also for students' wider needs. Its recommendations are expected to include stronger requirements for hostels, sports facilities and facilities for students with disabilities.
Academic quality will also be a major focus of the review. The committee will examine the experience of institutions seeking to establish universities, their NAAC accreditation, NBA and NIRF rankings, faculty qualifications, student-teacher ratios, research publications, patents and innovation.
The panel will also assess whether private universities comply with the norms of statutory regulators, including the UGC, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Pharmacy Council of India and Bar Council of India.
For students and parents, admissions and fees are likely to be among the most significant areas of the review. The committee will examine admission procedures, fee fixation, reservation policies, online admission systems and mechanisms for addressing student grievances.
Recruitment practices have also been brought within the scope of the review. The committee will assess whether private universities follow transparent procedures while appointing teaching and non-teaching staff, whether salaries are appropriate and whether employees receive equal opportunities.
The review comes at a time when private universities have become an increasingly important part of Maharashtra's higher education landscape. The quality of institutions, degrees and student services has therefore become a matter of direct concern for thousands of students and their families.
The committee's recommendations are expected to provide the government with a framework to make the process of establishing and operating private universities more rigorous and transparent, while ensuring that institutions meet current academic and regulatory requirements.