Supreme Court asks NAAC to decide on accreditation of deemed universities

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today asked the National Assessment and Accreditation Council ( NAAC) to decide on the issue of accreditation of deemed universities within two weeks as admission time was "fast approaching".

"In our considered opinion, NAAC shall look into the matter and will decide the issue of accreditation and proceed as per law. If NAAC desires to consult the University Grants Commission or consider the report submitted by UGC, it is free to do so. It is hereby made clear that any decision given by NAAC shall be subject to the result of the writ petition, as well as the further deliberations in the backdrop of rules framed by the Union of India," a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said.

"As the admission time in the universities is fast approaching, NAAC shall decide the matter within two weeks hence. If NAAC has already accredited a university, the same status shall remain with the university till the next date of deliberation. Needless to emphasise, NAAC while determining the accreditation, shall act with utmost objectivity," it said.

Meanwhile, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said the government has received inputs for framing rules to lay down criteria for "a deemed university to continue with university status and the accreditation of the universities".

He also said the Ministry of Human Resource Development has consulted statutory bodies like All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), National Board of Accreditation (NBA), NAAC and the UGC and received their inputs on the issue.

Earlier, the court had rapped UGC for going into "slumber" over conducting physical verification of infrastructure and faculty strength of deemed universities, which were black-listed by a committee appointed by the Centre.

The remarks were made when the counsel for UGC was trying to explain the circumstances for the delay by submitting that there was a need to modify the apex court order as the commission cannot go the way P N Tandon Committee made categorisation of the deemed universities like "A", "B" and "C" depending on the fulfillment of criteria.

The UGC had said it can only do the inspection and after seeking response of such universities, place the report with the Centre which has to express its view before the court.