CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government is cracking down on private universities in the state for alleged norm violations. The State Department of Higher Education has cracked down on three universities in the past four months, all in Sonipat, most recently Ashoka universitywhom the government accuses of “financial embezzlement”.
Haryana has 24 private universities under the State Department of Higher Education regulated by the Haryana Private Universities Act (HPU) of 2006.
In May, colleges fined the World University of Design Rs 10,000. The university had started some courses without prior approval from the higher education department. The first notification went to the university in December 2021. Dissatisfied with the institution’s response, the department imposed the fine that the university is said to have paid. (TOI has a copy of the May 17 notice sent to the university). SRM University has also been accused of starting courses without the approval of the department.
But Ashoka University’s case is more complex. According to the law, the university shall reserve 25% of its places for Haryana resident students and grant fee concessions. According to the decision of the state government, the university did not comply. In addition, the department has claimed that by responding to its notice, the university falsified the numbers and may face “punitive action and criminal prosecution.” The university is also a partner of the state government in good governance scholarship program.
“For example, the number of reserved places in UG’s BA/BSc program has been reported as 200, of which only 100 will be filled by Haryana students…” it said. “On the basis of … the information provided by the University, it is concluded that the ratio of 1/5, 2/5 and 2/5 of 25% of Haryana students is not respected by the University. In 2019-22, only 39 out of 62 of the Haryana quota received fee reductions and 23 students were left out,” the statement said.
An agency report quoted a university spokesman as saying: “The notice is grossly misconstrued and contrary to the provisions of the Haryana Private Universities Act. The accusations of misinformation and embezzlement of funds are completely unjustified. In addition, the university adheres to the highest standards of institutional governance, backed by rigorous audits, and as such there is no question of financial inadequacy in any aspect of its functioning.”
“The university has strictly adhered to the Haryana Private Universities Act reservation requirements for Haryana students. All admitted students residing in Haryana will receive fee reductions,” she added. Inquiries to WUD and SRM University remained unanswered.
Additional Chief Secretary for Higher Education Anand Mohan Sharan described the measures taken as “a routine exercise by the department” to oversee the functioning of private universities.
(With inputs from PTI)
Haryana has 24 private universities under the State Department of Higher Education regulated by the Haryana Private Universities Act (HPU) of 2006.
In May, colleges fined the World University of Design Rs 10,000. The university had started some courses without prior approval from the higher education department. The first notification went to the university in December 2021. Dissatisfied with the institution’s response, the department imposed the fine that the university is said to have paid. (TOI has a copy of the May 17 notice sent to the university). SRM University has also been accused of starting courses without the approval of the department.
But Ashoka University’s case is more complex. According to the law, the university shall reserve 25% of its places for Haryana resident students and grant fee concessions. According to the decision of the state government, the university did not comply. In addition, the department has claimed that by responding to its notice, the university falsified the numbers and may face “punitive action and criminal prosecution.” The university is also a partner of the state government in good governance scholarship program.
“For example, the number of reserved places in UG’s BA/BSc program has been reported as 200, of which only 100 will be filled by Haryana students…” it said. “On the basis of … the information provided by the University, it is concluded that the ratio of 1/5, 2/5 and 2/5 of 25% of Haryana students is not respected by the University. In 2019-22, only 39 out of 62 of the Haryana quota received fee reductions and 23 students were left out,” the statement said.
An agency report quoted a university spokesman as saying: “The notice is grossly misconstrued and contrary to the provisions of the Haryana Private Universities Act. The accusations of misinformation and embezzlement of funds are completely unjustified. In addition, the university adheres to the highest standards of institutional governance, backed by rigorous audits, and as such there is no question of financial inadequacy in any aspect of its functioning.”
“The university has strictly adhered to the Haryana Private Universities Act reservation requirements for Haryana students. All admitted students residing in Haryana will receive fee reductions,” she added. Inquiries to WUD and SRM University remained unanswered.
Additional Chief Secretary for Higher Education Anand Mohan Sharan described the measures taken as “a routine exercise by the department” to oversee the functioning of private universities.
(With inputs from PTI)
