SWEEPING SC SCRUTINY OVER PVT, DEEMED UNIVERSITIES

The Supreme Court has placed the entire ecosystem of private and deemed universities across India under judicial scrutiny, demanding exhaustive disclosures from the Centre and state governments on the circumstances of their creation, the benefits extended to them, and the regulatory frameworks meant to ensure they adhere to a 'no profit-no loss' mandate if they position themselves as such institutions.

- Utkarsh Anand

A bench of justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and NV Anjaria said that "in the larger public interest" it found it appropriate to examine aspects relating to the "creation/establishment/setting-up of all private Universities, either under the state governments/UTs or the central government, and connected concerns.

The court directed the cabinet secretary to the Government of India and chief secretaries of all states and UTs to collate information pertaining to the establishment, functioning and regulation of such universities and place this on record through affidavits "personally affirmed by them".

The court's decision arose from a writ petition filed by the student of a private university in Noida who was aggrieved that the varsity had not changed her name in its records despite the submission of all necessary documents.