UGC clean chit may not let 44 univs off the hook

NEW DELHI: The HRD ministry is confident it has a foolproof case in the apex court. Highly placed sources said the 44 deemed universities should not hope that a clean chit by UGC’s review committee (separate from the HRD ministry’s panel) can help them challenge the recommendation seeking removal of ‘deemed’ status.

Sources said under the UGC Act, the HRD ministry may or may not accept UGC’s recommendations . ‘‘ Anyway, UGC had reviewed only a few parameters of these institutions whereas the HRD sministry’s review committee looked into the complete picture. It cannot be challenged ,’’ a highly placed source said.

The degrees of those enrolled with ‘‘ deemed universities’ ’ now staring at de-recognition will be of the institutions they may get attached to in future. ‘‘ Students will eventually get the degree from the new university,’’ a source maintained.

Those who have already passed out from the ‘‘ universities’ ’ in question need not worry. ‘‘ They will not be affected because the deemed status was not taken away then,’’ sources said. But the ministry is keen that the institutions are not able to give back-dated certificates. Sources said the ministry had anticipated such a possibility and, therefore , the review committee’s questionnaire had asked each institute to furnish details of past and present students. ‘‘ Back-dated degrees cannot be given now,’’ a source said.

Meanwhile, HRD ministry is waiting for the next hearing in Supreme Court on January 25 before it starts issuing notices to these 44 deemed universities.