Regulatory body for pvt edu institutes soon: Saraf

JAIPUR: The regulatory commission to maintain a check over private educational institutes would soon be formed by bringing in an ordinance and the commission will take stern action in case of irregularities like distribution of fake degrees.
The announcement was made by higher education minister Kalicharan Saraf at the assembly, in his reply on the debate on the RNB Global University, Bikaner Bill, 2015.Participating in the debate, senior BJP legislator Ghanshyam Tiwari pointed out that there was a need to ensure that a university is set up by an institute involved in education and not by an individual and that a private university offers courses which are beyond the existing graduate and post graduate degrees already offered by government universities.
"The state government should have a say or be involved at some level to ensure that the vice-chancellor appointed is well qualified, that the local legislators are part of the private university's syndicate or equivalent body and that a special board is formed by the government to check the syllabi and exams conducted by the private universities,'' said Tiwari.
Calling for strict action against those found to be involved in irregularities, Tiwari said that of the 40 private universities which existed in the state, eight were found to be involved in providing fake degrees. "This is a very serious matter. The government should immediately appoint administrator in such universities,'' he said.
Saraf ensured that these aspects had been taken care of in the bill regarding the regulatory commission. "The bill has been forwarded to the law department. Meanwhile, an ordinance would be brought in for setting up the commission,'' he said.
Other legislators, including those belonging to the ruling party and who participated in the debate raised a concern over the lack of infrastructure at the university. Congress MLA Sukhram Bishnoi called for an assembly committee to be formed for ground inspection. Following the debate and minister's reply, the bill was passed by the House through a voice vote.
BOX
'No relocation of IIT-Jodhpur'
Higher education minister Kalicharan Saraf on Thursday assured the House that neither IIT-Jodhpur is being relocated elsewhere nor there is any move to replace the premier institute's director.
"IIT-Jodhpur is a matter of pride for us and it is not going anywhere. Moreover, the director, who is a good man, is not going to be replaced only because of agitation by the students,'' said Saraf, in reply to Jodhpur MLA Kailash Bhansali raising the issue and demanding state's intervention.
"I have talked to the HRD officials at the Centre and also to the director and they told me there was no proposal of shifting IIT from Jodhpur. I also assured our full support to the director,'' said Saraf.
Bhansai had claimed that a section of the staffers with maligned intentions were deliberately using the student federation to agitate against the director. "The students are being misguided and there are speculations that IIT might be relocated from Jodhpur,'' said Bhansali.