Raipur : Even as the final word on the controversy involving the deemed universities is yet to be pronounced, the Chhattisgarh government has cancelled Letters of Intent issued to 17 institutions after they failed to fulfil the conditions laid down for setting up of private universities. Only two private universities remain in the state, which had earlier opened the floodgates for such institutions.
“All the 17 proposed private universities have failed to fulfil the conditions under the Chhattisgarh Private Universities (Establishment and Operation) Act, 2005. Hence, the Letters of Intent issued to them have been cancelled,” said a spokesman of the state Higher Education Department.
The proposed private universities for which the state had issued Letters of Intent are: Rai University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh University, Durg, Gurukul University, Alenjo University, Korba, ITM University, Modi International University, Durg, Acharya Aryabhat University, Luthern University, Baikuntpur, Vishwabharati University, Konta (Bastar), Commercial University, Simgha, Disha University Raipur, Korba University, Inspire University Bilaspur, Sri Shankaracharya Professional University, Bhilai, G H Raisoni International University, Raipur, Amity University, Raipur and Innovative Professional Studies University, Durg .
The Chhattisgarh Private Universities Regulatory Commission, a body set up to oversee the functioning of private varsities, recommended cancellation of Letters of Intent as the proposed universities failed to comply with the conditions, including the one that stipulates that a proposed varsity within the municipal limits of Raipur should have 15 acres of land and those outside must have 25 acres of land.
Another reason for this cancellation is that the Private University Act stipulates that the proposed universities should establish and start functioning within six months after obtaining Letters of Intent. Most of these proposed universities could not do so within the time limit. “After it was felt that this six-month period is too short for a university to develop infrastructure and start functioning, the Commission has recommended amendments to increase this period to two years,” the sources said.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/C-garh-says-no-to-17-pvt-varsities/572878
