Supreme Court orders nationwide audit of private universities after Amity University harasses student for changing her name

Supreme Court orders nationwide audit of private universities after Amity University harasses student for changing her name 

The student claimed that university officials harassed her, barred her from attending classes and even taunted her over her religion.

Supreme Court. 27.11.2025

Ritwik Choudhury Published on: 26 Nov 2025, 6:14 pm 4 min read Follow Us The Supreme Court recently directed the Union government, all States and Union Territories, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to disclose how private universities across the country were established, regulated and monitored [Ayesha Jain vs. Amity University, Noida & Ors.].

A Bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and NV Anjaria said it was necessary, in the larger public interest, to examine how private universities were created, the statutory framework under which they function and the benefits granted to them by governments.

It directed all governments to file comprehensive affidavits detailing the background, legal basis, and financial or administrative benefits extended to private universities, including land allotments and preferential treatment.

The Court also sought information on who actually controls and manages these institutions, and how their governing bodies are constituted.

Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and NV Anjaria The Bench was hearing a petition by 23-year-old student, one Ayesha Jain, who approached the Court after Amity University allegedly refused to change her name in its rolls despite her furnishing all legal documents. She claimed that university officials harassed her, barred her from attending classes and even taunted her for changing her name to a muslim name.

Her petition detailed a series of complaints made to the UGC and the Ministry of Education, alleging that despite their intervention, the university refused to take corrective action.

The petition also accused Amity of misusing its authority and said that she lost a year of studies because of its conduct.

The controversy dates back to 2021, when the petitioner changed her name from Khushi Jain to Ayesha Jain and published it in the Gazette of India. In 2023, she completed a certificate course at Amity Finishing School under her new name and later joined Amity Business School for an MBA (Entrepreneurship) programme in 2024. However, the university allegedly refused to update her records, preventing her from attending classes and sitting for exams.

After multiple unanswered representations and complaints, Jain approached the Supreme Court in mid-2025, accusing the university of arbitrariness and discrimination.

During earlier hearings, the Court had expressed strong disapproval of the university’s conduct. On October 9, it directed Amity’s chairman and vice-chancellor to personally explain their position.

When the matter was next heard on October 14, the Court remarked that the university had made a “mockery” of its orders after it attempted to tender ₹1 lakh as compensation. It then directed the presence of Dr. Atul Chauhan, President of the Ritnand Balved Education Foundation (which runs Amity Universities), and the Vice-Chancellor at the next hearing.

When the matter came up again on November 20, both officials were present before the Court and submitted their affidavits. However, instead of concluding the matter, the Bench expanded its scope significantly, observing that the issues involved in the case carried wider implications for governance and regulation of private higher education in India.

It emphasised that it wished to examine how private universities came into existence, what statutory provisions or notifications enabled their creation, and what benefits they receive from governments.

“The issues have now come before this Court, which the present coram has also deliberated in detail, in the larger public interest, it is deemed appropriate to examine the aspects relating to the creation/establishment/setting-up of all private Universities, either under the State Governments/Union Territories or the Central Government, and connected concerns,” it noted.

The Court then directed the Centre and all State and Union Territory administrations to disclose the legal basis under which each private, non-government or deemed university was established. The Court also sought complete information on the benefits granted to these institutions, including land allotments, statutory relaxations, preferential treatment and any financial or administrative concessions.

It further sought full details of the organisations and individuals who run such institutions, including the composition and selection process of their governing bodies.

“Full details of the concerned personnel connected with the establishment/management of such Universities shall be placed on record,” it said.

The UGC was also asked to explain its regulatory authority over private universities and the actual mechanism it follows to ensure compliance with statutory and policy requirements.

“The affidavit by the UGC shall cover what the statute/policy mandates as also the actual mechanism to monitor/oversee compliance by the institutions,” the Court said.

The order also called for disclosures on admissions policies, recruitment of faculty, checks on compliance with legal obligations, whether institutions claiming to operate on a “no profit, no loss” basis are doing so in reality, grievance redressal systems for students and faculty, and whether minimum statutory salaries are being paid.

The Court made the responsibility for these disclosures explicit.

“Responsibility for every disclosure and its correctness shall rest with the deponent concerned,” the Court said.

It underscored that any attempt to suppress or misrepresent facts would be viewed sternly.

“If there is any attempt to withhold, suppress, misrepresent or mis-state facts in the affidavits called for, this Court will be compelled to adopt a strict view,” the Bench said.

To ensure accountability at the highest level, the Court directed that the affidavits must be personally affirmed by the Cabinet Secretary of India, Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories, and the Chairman of the UGC, without any delegation.

The matter is slated for further hearing on January 8, 2026 when the Court is likely to examine the disclosures in detail.

The petitioner was represented by advocates Mohd Fuzail Khan and Shisba Chawla.

The respondents were represented by advocates Amitesh Kumar, Priti Kumari, Pankaj Kumar Ray, Abhinav Singh, Shashank Shekhar Singh, Parmanand Gaur, Vibhav Mishra and Megha Gaur.

Withdraw T.N. Private Universities (Amendment) Bill: former V-C

Withdraw T.N. Private Universities (Amendment) Bill: former V-C

E. Balagurusamy

The Hindu Bureau

Chennai 27.10.2025

Former Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of Anna University E. Balagurusamy has urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to withdraw the recently introduced Tamil Nadu Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

In a letter to the Chief Minister on Sunday, a copy of which was shared with the media, he highlighted that the conversion of government-aided colleges to private universities would lead to the dilution of public control, uncertainty for faculty and staff, and possible withdrawal of government support. “The private university status can lead to a steep increase in fees, reducing access for students from economically and socially weaker sections who rely on affordable aided-college education,” he contended.

The State government on Saturday decided to review what Higher Education Minister Govi. Chezhiaan called the “Draft” Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, in response to pushback from teachers’ bodies and a section of MLAs. The Bill was passed by the Assembly on October 18. “The dilution of reservation policies and social justice measures threatens equitable access to higher education and undermines decades of progress in inclusive education,” Mr. Balagurusamy added, and 

urged the State to hold consultations with all stake-holders before introducing any amendments to the Act.

Top scientists flag corruption in NIRF rankings, urge overhaul of research metrics

Top scientists flag corruption in NIRF rankings, urge overhaul of research metrics

 Leading scientists warn that flawed NIRF methodology fuels low-quality publications, fake citations, and academic manipulation, threatening India's research credibility 

G.S. Mudur Published 13.10.25, 06:07 AM

University Grants Commission 

Leading Indian scientists have cautioned that government inaction on multiple appeals to reform an annual ranking exercise for higher education institutions introduced in 2016 threatens the quality and integrity of research in the country.

Scientists who wrote to the government four months ago, warning that the pursuit of high ranks in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) has fostered “corruption and unethical practices”, said on Sunday they have yet to see any response.

Their concerns are centred on the NIRF methodology, which includes certain quantitative metrics such as the number of research papers and citations those papers receive. Citations are intended to measure academic influence and credit prior research.

The current methodology grants scores even to students, faculty and institutions engaging in manipulative practices, such as publishing “casual” papers that don’t contribute meaningfully to knowledge, 11 leading scientists wrote in a letter to multiple government departments on June 8.

Advertisement Examples include surveys on eating habits or awareness among students about food. While such papers do little to advance knowledge or train students in research methods, they receive as much credit as serious research, the scientists said.

They also expressed concern that some institutions appear to have instructed students or faculty to cite the work of their own colleagues — whether the citation is relevant or not — adding to the institutions’ citation counts.

A paper on fruit and vegetable consumption published by students and faculty from one university, for instance, had cited a study on diesel engines by others in the same university.

“Such practices have made scientific research a number game… detrimental to the overall ecosystem and reputation of Indian science,” the signatories wrote in their letter sent to the University Grants Commission, the principal scientific adviser to the central government, and the secretary in the higher education department.

The signatories included Partha Majumder, past president of the Indian Academy of Sciences, H.A. Ranganath, former vice-chancellor of Bangalore University, and L.S. Shashidhara, director of the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, among others. The letter follows similar concerns some scientists have articulated on other platforms.

“Aspiration for high NIRF rankings has bred abject misuse and an unimaginable system of corruption and unethical practices,” the scientists wrote, cautioning that the manipulative and gaming practices overlooked by the NIRF will undermine academic integrity and quality.

They have sought revisions in the methodology to provide greater weight to qualitative aspects of research output than to existing quantitative measures.

One option would be to rank all institutions through the existing quantitative measures, then evaluate them on qualitative measures through an additional screening process.

“Despite having drawn the attention of the relevant government authorities, no action against such practices has been rapidly implemented,” said Majumder, a population geneticist and the founder director of the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani.

Queries sent by this newspaper to the University Grants Commission and the department of higher education seeking their perspectives on these concerns have evoked no response.

The National Board of Accreditation, the agency that runs the NIRF, announced earlier this year that the NIRF exercise would introduce negative scores for retracted papers or for citations of tainted papers.

But many believe these steps aren’t sufficient to curb the unethical practices.

“Negative marks for retracted papers is a welcome move, but not enough to address the large numbers of casual papers being produced only to increase scores and that do not get retracted,” said a physicist in a government institution who requested anonymity.

In their letter, the scientists said the ranking system had turned into a business model with no relevance to academic quality or integrity, driven by manipulative practices and papers published in so-called “predatory” or “paper-mill” journals that publish anything for a fee.

Under this model, some institutions push students and faculty to publish in bulk, flooding predatory journals with low-quality papers that inflate scores and attract more students — a cycle scientists say must be broken.

The scientists said the practice of publishing papers in predatory or paper-mill journals is “so rampant” that India should formally treat publication in such journals as an unethical practice, leading to negative consequences on the career of researchers or profile of institutions.

Universities call for complete revamp in Education Ministry’s NIRF rankings

Universities call for complete revamp in Education Ministry’s NIRF rankings 

There was a controversy over the National Rankings 2025 due to the ups and downs of some universities.

S. Lalitha Updated on: 18 Oct 2025, 10:14 am 2 min read

NEW DELHI: A collective call was given by multiple universities across the country on the need to bring in dynamic reforms in the Education Ministry’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) that is released annually. The criteria used for ranking remains the same since its inception a decade ago and hence the demand for changes in it, said multiple people who took part.

A meet was held at the IISc Habitat in Delhi on Friday evening in connection with the reforms required in these National Rankings. They are decided by the National Board of Accreditation, constituted by the Ministry.

Education Secretary Vineet Joshi chaired the meet in which Chairman of the Executive Council of the National Assessement and Acrcediation Council Anil Sahasrabudhi and representatives of the IITs of Roorkee, Mumbai, Madras, Delhi and Bhubaneshwar took part along with those from many National Institute of Technologies and universities from across the country including from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Jammu & Kashmir.

There was a controversy over the National Rankings 2025 due to the ups and downs of some universities. This forced NBA to go in for a third party vetting for the first time by the firm Ernst and Young before they were made public after much delay in September 2025.

A senior educationist told this reporter, on the condition of anonymity, that a key recommendation was the emphasis given to the `Perception’ factor. “Perception is a relative term. By giving ten marks out of 100 in the rankings to this aspect, it was not a fair assessment was the opinion expressed by multiple heads of institutions. Though the ranking committee said they spoke to peers, professors and the general public before assessing the perception factor, representatives of universities expressed their unhappiness over it and recommended that this criterion be dropped,” he said.

Another recommendation was that the 20 marks given to the Graduation Outcome (GO) takes into account the number of graduates who get employed after passing out. “There are hundreds of students who take over their family business or run their own start-ups. This is not given any weightage. Hence, there should be value attached to these aspects too and not just for those who go into traditional forms of employment,” he added.

Many educationists also pointed out that institutes not recognised by the National Medical Commision, the Dental Council of India, the Bar Council of India or the All India Council of Technical Education find place in the rankings. “Such educational institutions need to be dropped,” they felt.

The Head of an institute also pointed out that technical universities in the country, numbering around 20 are left out of the rankings. “They need to be included. Such a competiton will help them improve their professional standings and make them competitive,” he said.

Bill passed to let TNPSC handle university staff hiring

Bill passed to let TNPSC handle university staff hiring

The Bill stated that the move would establish a more uniform, efficient, professional and transparent system for recruiting non-teaching staff at the universities.

Chief Minister M K Stalin speaking during the state Assembly session on Thursday.

Express News Service

Updated on:

17 Oct 2025, 8:51 am

3 min read

CHENNAI: The state Assembly on Thursday passed a Bill allowing the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) to manage the recruitment of non-teaching staff for 22 state universities. The Bill amends the TN Public Service Commission (Additional Functions) Act, 2022, which empowers the TNPSC to conduct recruitment for various government departments and undertakings. Until now, the recruitment for non-teaching positions in these state-run universities was managed by the respective university administrations.

The Bill stated that the move would establish a more uniform, efficient, professional and transparent system for recruiting non-teaching staff at the universities. It would also make it easier for job seekers from rural areas to apply for such positions, while relieving universities of the cumbersome task of conducting their own recruitment drives

Bill passed to extend tenure of SOs in rural local bodies

The Assembly also passed a Bill to amend the TN Panchayats Act, 1994, to extend the term of office of special officers (SOs) appointed to administer village panchayats, panchayat union councils and district panchayats till January 5, 2026, or until the first meeting of the local bodies after the general elections. While the rural development department had issued an order in this regard in July, the Bill was now passed in the Assembly.

According to the Bill, the government is finalising proposals to expand municipal corporations, municipal councils and town panchayats by including certain adjoining village panchayats in 28 districts. Only after the delimitation and reservation processes are completed after this amalgamation, elections for these rural local bodies can be notified. A total of 9,581 village panchayats, 314 panchayat union councils and 28 district panchayats are being run by the SOs.

The tenure of elected representatives of panchayats in these 28 districts expired on January 5 this year. As elections could not be conducted before that date, the government amended the TN Panchayats Act, 1994, to appoint SOs to administer these bodies until July 5. The Act was now amended to extend the tenure of SOs till January 2026 or until the elections are held.

Tender exemption clause of 1998 Act scrapped

The state government has moved to tighten its tendering system by scrapping the exemption clause in the TN Transparency in Tenders Act, 1998, that allowed select procurements to bypass the standard open tender process. An amendment passed on Thursday removes Section 16 of the law, which previously permitted direct procurement in limited circumstances such as emergencies, ensuring compatibility, or sourcing from state-owned or non-commercial entities. The provision also allowed purchases through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) platform without adhering to sections 9 and 10 governing open tendering procedures.

According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons, Section 16 explicitly exempted procurements made through the GeM special purpose vehicle from the application of sections 9 and 10 of the Act. This exemption covered purchases through mechanisms such as rate contracts, online bidding, online reverse auctions and any other method notified by the government. The government said the exemption had become redundant as TN already operates its own e-procurement portal (tntenders.gov.in).

This apart, the Assembly on Thursday also introduced a Bill to amend the TN Dr Ambedkar Law University Act, 1996, which sought to amend relevant rules that disqualified the deaf-mute from holding authority positions in the university. The proposed changes also seek to update a penal reference in the Act to align with the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Assembly passes Private Universities Amendment Bill

Assembly passes Private Universities Amendment Bill

The Hindu Bureau. 18.10.2025

Chennai

The Assembly on Friday passed the Tamil Nadu Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, allowing for conversion of existing private or government-aided colleges into a new entity called ‘Brownfield University’, by altering the minimum requirement for contiguous land to establish such a facility. The principal Opposition party, the AIADMK, and some of the ruling DMK’s allies opposed the Bill.

While Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Private Universities Act, 2019, necessitates a minimum of 100 acres of contiguous land to establish private universities, the amendment has slashed the minimum requirement for Brownfield Universities to 25 acres in municipal corporation areas, 35 acres in municipal council or town panchayat areas, and 50 acres in other areas.

According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Amendment Act, educational institutions operating in municipal corporation areas or municipal council and town panchayat areas found it tough to identify large expanse of contiguous land. “If the requirement of land is reduced in line with the Acts of private universities of neighbouring States, requests of eligible and deserving educational institutions may be considered,” the statement read.

New clause

A new clause was inserted, earmarking 65% of seats in Medical, Dental, Allied Health, and Indian Medicine courses at all non-minority private universities as government seats, while for minority private universities, half of the seats would be allotted to the government.

Section 37 of the original Act, which dealt with service conditions of employees, was also amended to include a clause stating that those employed in government-sanctioned posts in aided institutions “shall not be in any way less favourable than those which would have been applicable to them if there had been no such conversion”.

Another clause inserted into Section 55 stated that students admitted to a private college before conversion to a Brownfield University would be provided arrangements for instruction, teaching, training, and appearing for examinations, and their degrees would be conferred upon by the affiliate university.

In his reply to the debate on the floor of the House, Higher Education Minister Govi. Chezhiaan said the government was keen on protecting aided colleges for the benefit of students. He said if aided colleges were converted into private universities, they would lose the ‘aided’ status, and would stop receiving government grants. Explaining the amendments, he claimed these steps opened up possibilities to take higher education in the State to the next level.

AIADMK MLA and former Higher Education Minister K.P. Anbalagan, CPI(M) MLA Nagaimaali, CPI MLA T. Ramachandran, and Tamilaga Valvurimai Katchi MLA T. Velmurugan opposed the Bill. CPI(M), CPI, Tamilaga Valvurimai Katchi, and VCK MLA Sinthanai Selvan said the Bill may affect reservation.

K. Selvaperunthagai of Congress backed the Bill.

ஆசிரியர் அல்லாத பணியிடங்கள் அரசு பணியாளர் தேர்வாணையம் மூலமே நிரப்பப்படும் - மசோதா தாக்கல்

ஆசிரியர் அல்லாத பணியிடங்கள் அரசு பணியாளர் தேர்வாணையம் மூலமே நிரப்பப்படும் - மசோதா தாக்கல் 

தினத்தந்தி அக்டோபர் 16, 11:29 pm 

இந்த மசோதா 22 பல்கலைக்கழகங்களில் ஆசிரியர் அல்லாத பணியிடங்களை தேர்ந்தெடுப்பதற்கான சிறந்த முறையை வழிவகுக்கும். சென்னை,-

சட்டசபையில் அமைச்சர் கயல்விழி செல்வராஜ் தாக்கல் செய்த மசோதாவில் கூறியிருப்பதாவது:-

மாநில அரசின் கட்டுப்பாட்டின் கீழ் அரசுக்கு சொந்தமான பொதுத்துறை நிறுவனங்கள், அரசு கழகங்கள், வாரியங்கள், அதிகார அமைப்புகளில் உள்ள பதவிகளுக்கு விண்ணப்பதாரர்களை தேர்வு செய்ய 2022-ம் ஆண்டு தமிழ்நாடு அரசு பணியாளர் தேர்வாணைய சட்டமானது இயற்றப்பட்டது. இந்த சட்டத்தின் நோக்கத்தை விரிவுப்படுத்தி மாநில பல்கலைக்கழகங்களின் ஆசிரியர் அல்லா பணியிடங்களில் ஆட்கள் சேர்ப்பதற்கான பணிகளை, தமிழ்நாடு அரசு பணியாளர் தேர்வாணையத்திடம் ஒப்படைக்கிறது. இது 22 பல்கலைக்கழகங்களில் ஆசிரியர் அல்லாத பணியிடங்களை தேர்ந்தெடுப்பதற்கான சிறந்த முறையை வழிவகுக்கும். அதற்காக தமிழ்நாடு சட்டம் 14/2022-ஐ திருத்தம் செய்ய முடிவு செய்துள்ளது.

இவ்வாறு அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

https://www.dailythanthi.com/news/tamilnadu/non-teaching-posts-will-be-filled-through-the-public-service-commission-bill-tabled-ஆசிரியர் அல்லாத பணியிடங்கள் அரசு பணியாளர் தேர்வாணையம் மூலமே நிரப்பப்படும் - மசோதா தாக்கல்

Tamil Nadu introduces Bill to allow existing private colleges to become universities

Tamil Nadu introduces Bill to allow existing private colleges to become universities

As per the draft amendment, 65% of seats in non-minority private universities and 50% in minority institutions will be earmarked as government seats.

Representative imagePhoto | Express Illustrations

Binita Jaiswal


Updated on:
16 Oct 2025, 8:54 a

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday introduced a Bill in the Assembly to amend the Tamil Nadu Private Universities Act, 2019, enabling existing private colleges, including government-aided ones, to be converted into private universities if they meet the prescribed criteria.

Under the existing Act, only greenfield institutions can be converted into private universities.

The proposed amendment introduces a new “Brownfield University” category, which allows the conversion of existing private colleges into universities, and a “Minority Private University” category that permits linguistic and religious minorities to set up and administer universities under Article 30 of the Constitution.

The government may pass the Bill during the current Assembly session that concludes on Friday. AIADMK MLA and former higher education minister K P Anbazhagan opposed the Bill at the introduction stage.

The seats in government-aided courses in all types of private colleges are presently filled as per the state’s reservation policies.

65% of seats in non-minority private univs to be earmarked for govt quota

However, as per the amendment, if such a college becomes a private university, reservation policies would apply only to medical, dental, allied health, and Indian medicine courses, not arts, science, or engineering. Even in the medicine and related courses, reservation will be applied only for seats earmarked as “government seats”.

As per the draft amendment, 65% of seats in non-minority private universities and 50% in minority institutions will be earmarked as government seats.

To protect the interests of staff and students, the Bill states that employees in government-sanctioned posts in aided institutions must not face service conditions less favourable than what was being enjoyed by them before the conversion.

Although it does not explicitly mention that the government will cease funding salaries, sources indicated that this is implied. The amendment also provides that students already enrolled under the affiliating university before conversion can continue and complete their courses in the same institution, with the new brownfield university responsible for facilitating this transition.

The Bill further relaxes the land requirement for setting up private universities. The existing norm of 100 acres of contiguous land is proposed to be reduced to 25 acres within municipal corporation limits, 35 acres within municipalities or town panchayats, and 50 acres elsewhere. If a proposed campus spans multiple local body categories, the requirement of the zone with the larger land share will apply.

Academicians opined that the amendment could encourage several existing colleges to upgrade themselves into private universities, offering greater flexibility and reduced regulatory restrictions. According to the State Higher Education Department’s policy note for 2025–26, Tamil Nadu currently has eight private universities, all established as greenfield institutions.

The Association of University Teachers (AUT) has strongly opposed the proposal, claiming it could lead to the corporatisation of government-aided institutions and undermine equitable access. “The entire admission process will shift from merit-based to money-based, and both teaching and non-teaching staff could face job insecurity,” said K Raja, general secretary of AUT, urging the government to withdraw the Bill.

Brownfield university

Pvt colleges can be turned into univs under ‘Brownfield’ category, while minority institutes can become pvt univs under ‘Minority Pvt University’ category

University of Western Australia launch Mumbai campus

University of Western Australia launch Mumbai campus 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 13.10.2025

The UGC has approved the University of Western Australia’s (UWA)application to establish campuses in Mumbai and Chennai. The campuses will offer undergraduate and master’s degree programmes in STEM, as well as in Business and Commerce. 

A high-level delegation from the university is in India to engage with the government and state agencies and create an ecosystem of partnerships with Indian institutions. According to the university’s official portal, by establishing a physical presence in India, UWA aims to deepen educational and economic ties, create new research and industry partnerships, and foster collaborative opportunities that benefit both countries. The UWA, one of the world’s top 100 universities, will become the first Ivy Leagueequivalent institution and the first from Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities to set up campuses in India.

All benefits as per statutes for Calicut varsity V-C: Arlekar

All benefits as per statutes for Calicut varsity V-C: Arlekar

The Hindu Bureau

Kozhikode 12.10.2025

The office of Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who is also the Chancellor of State universities, has issued an order clarifying that P. Raveendran, Vice-Chancellor (V-C), University of Calicut, “shall have all the authorities, powers, duties, and responsibilities, conferred on V-Cs, in terms of the acts and statutes of the university.”

This comes in the wake of the explanations sought by the Kerala State Audit department related to the appointment of certain staff in his office and official bungalow and the use of his official quarters in his capacity as Professor, Department of Chemistry. Mr. Raveendran, originally a Professor in the department, was given full charge of the V-C in July 2024 by the then Governor Arif Mohammed Khan. He was not selected to the post by a search-cum-selection committee as mandated by the University Grants Commission. The Audit department’s actions followed a complaint raised by P.P. Sumod, Left Democratic Front MLA, who is a Syndicate member of the university.

Mr. Sumod pointed out in his complaint that Mr. Raveendran, who has been holding the additional responsibilities as V-C, was not entitled to use the official bungalow. He was also not supposed to appoint staff in the office. Mr. Sumod also alleged that Mr. Raveendran was not discharging his duties in the Department of Chemistry.

The Chancellor’s office, however, clarified in the order issued on October 8 that he should not be treated as an “officer in charge” or “in any manner inferior to the regularly appointed V-Cs”. He shall not be obliged to perform his normal duties attached to his original post during the tenure of his appointment, and he has the discretion to decide on the issue. He shall be eligible for a furnished accommodation as admissible to the V-C, notwithstanding the staff accommodation available to him. Mr. Raveendran is also entitled to other benefits such as an official vehicle with a driver, medical allowances, and leave travel allowance, the order said.

The order shall have retrospective effect from the date of notification of his appointment. However, the order also said that he shall not have any claim for continuance or permanency in the post.

Over 20 autonomous colleges in Odisha function without valid autonomy

Over 20 autonomous colleges in Odisha function without valid autonomy

According to the University Grants Commission (UGC) data, the state has 53 autonomous colleges, including degree and engineering/management colleges.

Berhampur University.(File photo | Express)

Diana Sahu

Updated on:

08 Oct 2025, 9:36 am

BHUBANESWAR: Over 20 autonomous degree colleges in the state, including government and non-government institutions, are functioning without valid autonomy and continue to conduct their own examinations.

Odisha has 1,058 degree colleges and only three per cent of them enjoy autonomous status, which gives them the administrative and academic independence to design their own syllabus, introduce new courses and assess students’ performance.

According to the University Grants Commission (UGC) data, the state has 53 autonomous colleges, including degree and engineering/management colleges. Out of the 53 colleges, 28 degree and two engineering/management colleges have lost their autonomy, but have not reapplied for it for several years. Earlier, the UGC granted autonomous status to a higher educational institution for a period of five years.

Of the degree colleges, the highest 18, are under Utkal University, six under Sambalpur University, four colleges under Berhampur University, one each under Fakir Mohan and Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University (MSCB University). Despite this, the parent universities continue to allow these colleges to conduct examinations in violation of the UGC (Conferment of Autonomous Status upon Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Autonomous Colleges) Regulations, 2023.

Notably, a college should apply to the UGC for extension of autonomous status at least three months before the completion of the autonomy period. As per the new UGC Regulations, 2023, the grant of autonomy is now based on assessment and accreditation of the colleges. Autonomous status is granted initially for 10 years on the condition that the institution is accredited either by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with a minimum of ‘A’ grade.

“Expiry of autonomous status does not just deprive colleges of designing their own syllabus, preparing their own admission rules but also prevents them from conducting their own exams. A majority of the autonomous colleges are without valid autonomy now. On expiry of the autonomy, the government should change their status to ‘colleges that are affiliated to the parent universities’. However, in these cases, there has been no action from the Higher Education department which is why these colleges continue to hold their own examination, which is illegal,” said a senior academician in a public university.

Officials in the Higher Education department said while all the colleges had lost their autonomy till two years back, some of them opted for NAAC and renewed their grades, like BJB and SB Women’s College, and subsequently, their autonomy was restored. The others are preparing to undergo NAAC assessment for the purpose first.

NIRF to begin negative marking for dishonesty

NIRF to begin negative marking for dishonesty

Draft Norms For Univ Ranking Aim To Strengthen Internal Checks

Hemali.Chhapia@timesofindia.com 03.10.2025

Mumbai : Centre is rewriting the rulebook for India’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), in what could be the sharpest overhaul of the country’s higher education rankings since their inception in 2015. For the first time, penalties are being formally stitched into the ranking methodology, signalling a tougher stance on research malpractice and misrepresentation of data.

The negative marking system will soon be declared. This year, the framework docked some marks from an institute’s overall score if published papers were retracted by academic journals. From the coming year, though, the consequences will be deeper and wider. Not only will universities be penalised for retracted work, but even citations of such tainted papers will draw heavy deductions in the research score — effectively broadening the circle of accountability.

The change is aimed at curbing what officials describe as a “weakness” in India’s research ecosystem. Papers withdrawn for plagiarism, duplication or manipulated data often continue to be cited, giving them a false academic afterlife. “Retractions damage the credibility of the system. And when retracted papers are cited, they really hold no meaning. And hence, such  instances need to be doubly punished with harsher negative marks,” said professor Anil Sahasrabudhe, chairman of the ranking committee. By extending penalties to citations, he  explained, govt is signalling zero tolerance towards dishonesty in academic output.

The revised rules will also push institutions to institute stronger internal checks. Universities that persistently accumulate lapses may face the ultimate penalty — being struck off the rankings  altogether. “While the final decision to debar institutes that continue to deliberately misrepresent has not yet been taken, the committee is serious about such cases and is likely to consider harsh  measures,” added Sahasrabudhe.

 “Rankings are signals to students, employers, investors of faith in an institution. To be rubbed off the table would mean more than a bruise to reputation; it may mean a shut door to opportunity,” said an official. NIRF evaluates institutions across five broad parameters: teaching and learning, graduation outcomes, research, outreach and perception. With over 8,700 institutions participating in the 2024 cycle, its results have become a widely referenced barometer for students, recruiters and policymakers.

Experts point out the higher education sector is at a crossroads: on the one hand, the country seeks a larger global footprint in research and innovation, and on the other, it must work to weed  out malpractice that risks damaging credibility. Sharper rules, they argue, are a warning and an opportunity. Universities need to invest in ethics training, plagiarism detection systems &  transparent review mechanisms, lest a single tainted citation pull down their standing, said

Govt considers autonomy for BJMC, two medical colleges

Govt considers autonomy for BJMC, two medical colleges

Institutions Can Plan Courses And Update Their Curricula

Sarfaraz.Ahmed@timesofindia.com 2.10.2025

Nagpur : In a push towards academic autonomy in the medical sector, the state govt is considering granting deemed university status to three of its oldest medical colleges, namely JJ Hospital’s Grant Medical College in Mumbai, BJ Medical College in Pune, and Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Nagpur. This would be the first time govt-run medical colleges in the state are accorded autonomy, a privilege largely enjoyed by private medical institutions. The most notable autonomous medical college in the public sector is AIIMS New Delhi, though it is supported financially by the union govt.

The proposal, submitted by the three colleges to the Department of Medical Education and Research (DMER), has been placed before the state govt, and a decision could be taken by the year-end. When contacted, DMER Director Dr Ajay Chandanwale said the proposal is in its nascent stages. Autonomy would empower these institutes to design their own courses, update curricula, and strengthen research facilities. At present, govt medical colleges in Maharashtra fall under the purview of DMER, while the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik, conducts examinations and awards degrees.

With autonomy, these colleges would gain independence from both bodies, opening the door to quicker decision-making and academic innovation. Explaining the significance, GMCH Nagpur Dean Dr Raj Gajbhiye said, “Autonomy would enable us to run our own courses, hold examinations, and take decisions at the institute level. One of the biggest advantages would be financial freedom, as we would be able to access and utilise our own funds instead of waiting for approvals from DMER.” Officials believe autonomy will not only accelerate institutional development but also benefit students and patients. There could be more postgraduate seats, specialised research centres, and upgraded infrastructure. “The idea is for the state govt to initially support the three colleges financially and then let them come up with proposals or services to boost their revenues,” said a highly placed govt official. Meanwhile, GMCH Nagpur will soon offer heart and liver transplants at its super specialty hospital.

Dean Dr Gajbhiye said the facility now has modular operation theatres where kidney transplants have already started. “Preparations for heart and liver procedures are in the final stages,” he added. Heart and liver transplants cost over Rs 15–22 lakh in the private sector. “But they are now covered under the revised scheme,” said Dr Gajbhiye.

UGC cracks down on 10 universities

UGC cracks down on 10 universities

Bhopal : 29.09.2025

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has raised serious concern over noncompliance by 10 private universities of Madhya Pradesh regarding mandatory information disclosure. Despite repeated reminders, these private universities have defaulted in submitting details under Section 13 of the UGC Act, 1956, and in uploading the required public self disclosure information on their official websites.

Issuing the notice on its official portal, UGC stated that as per the guidelines on public self disclosure by higher education institutions, issued on June 10, 2024, every higher education institution must maintain a functional website carrying all relevant institutional details. "These disclosures should be easily accessible on the homepage without login requirements, and equipped with a proper search facility. The norms mandate transparency, enabling students and the general public to verify key information," UGC authorities stated in the notice. 

In addition to website disclosure, universities were directed to submit detailed information in the prescribed proforma along with duly attested supporting documents. This submission was intended for inspection under Section 13 of the UGC Act, 1956. Institutions were further asked to host the same documents on their respective websites for public access. The UGC noted that despite multiple reminders through e-mails and online meetings, 10 private universities of MP have failed to comply with these directions. The regulator has now circulated a list of defaulting universities, warning them to ensure compliance at the earliest. UGC has reiterated that transparency in higher education is non-negotiable and universities failing to adhere to the norms could face consequences. TNN

AICTE proposed PhD framework focusing on responsible AI usage to boost research integrity

AICTE proposed PhD framework focusing on responsible AI usage to boost research integrity 

New guidelines will allow retired professors to supervise scholars, which can help retain valuable expertise 

Priyadarshini.Gupta@timesofindia.com 29.09.2025

To strengthen PhD regulations in technical education, the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) task force has drafted a new regulatory framework that enhances the quality, rigour, and relevance of doctoral research, including the mandatory AI disclaimer from researchers. The proposed guidelines reintroduce mandatory publication requirements, set authorship rules, allow retired professors to guide students, and impose stricter quality standards for dissertations. The taskforce, under the chairmanship of KR Venugopal, former vicechancellor, Bangalore University, has been approved by the AICTE Executive Council and is now with the Ministry of Education for final clearance. 

Authorship Concern 

Since the AICTE had relied on the University Grants Commission (UGC)’s PhD regulations till now, the proposed regulations will boost the research ecosystem. Prof Venugopal says, “There are persisting gaps in the current system that have weakened the quality and credibility of research. One of the major issues was the removal of the mandatory publication requirement in 2022, which had earlier existed in the 2016 regulations. Without this, many research scholars began completing their degrees without publishing any substantial work, making it difficult to evaluate their research. The new framework will reintroduce mandatory publication, not only to ensure that students contribute to peer-reviewed journals but also to provide them with recognition, which is crucial for their career prospects and academic validation. In the absence of these norms, there were instances when supervisors claimed first authorship even when the bulk of the work was done by students. Besides, the guides misused the work of their mentee for their own benefit.”

A prominent challenge in the existing system is overburdened faculty members, especially in private colleges, where professors have to handle administrative responsibilities such as admissions, grading, filling forms, and managing inspections, in addition to teaching multiple subjects. Drawing comparisons with practices in Western countries, Prof Venugopal says that retirement should not restrict professors from guiding new researchers. “The faculty find little time or energy to meaningfully guide research students. To address this, the new framework suggests that retired professors and experienced academics be allowed to continue guiding PhD students, ensuring that valuable expertise is not lost after retirement and that faculty who are less burdened can provide stronger mentorship,” he adds. Beyond publication and supervision, there are often problems with the quality of theses and dissertations. Prof Venugopal says, “Many submissions are poorly written, lacking in proper formatting, citations, and references, which undermines the academic value of the work. The new guidelines set clearer standards and guide students on how dissertations should be structured, including aspects such as font size, referencing styles, bibliography formats, and overall presentation. This is intended to improve the professionalism and readability of doctoral work, while also training students in essential academic writing skills that are often missing.” The new guidelines have also proposed a measure to reward merit and efficiency by allowing high-achieving students to submit their theses after two-and-a-half years instead of waiting for the standard three years, provided they have published quality research papers in recognised journals, including Scopus-indexed Q1 journals. Institutional delays have been a persistent problem, with registration processes of students often taking two to three months. “While many institutions have separate research departments and councils on paper, in practice, they do not function effectively. Research is not being taken seriously. The framework calls for a dedicated research department in institutions, strict timelines, and effective monitoring,” he says. 

There are several cases of exploitation by the guide. Prof Venugopal says, “It is found that guides sometimes exploit students, delaying approvals, or demanding undue favours. Furthermore, mandatory progress reviews are often skipped. Beyond procedural issues, institutions lack adequate infrastructure such as wellequipped laboratories for experimental research.” 

Plagiarism Check 

Meanwhile, while AI use is allowed for research work, it should account for less than 20% of the overall thesis and be properly cited, similar to plagiarism disclaimers. HEIs must have a mechanism using well-developed software applications to detect plagiarism/ AI-generated content in research work. V Rajendran, VC, AMET University, Chennai, says, “The framework also opens doors for industry professionals. For instance, BTech graduates with three to five years of work experience and a strong academic record (minimum CGPA of 7.0–7.5) can directly register for a PhD without a postgraduate degree. Students will be allowed to pursue translational research, regardless of their basic degree, thereby encouraging collaboration between fields such as engineering, science, literature, and medicine.” Formalising DSc Degree For the first time, AICTE has also formalised the Doctor of Science (DSc) degree. Until now, no standardised guidelines existed in India. 

The new framework requires candidates to demonstrate substantial post-PhD research output such as publishing at least 50 papers with a combined impact factor of 100 writing books or filing patents. They must also have guided aminimum number of PhD scholars. Unlike the honorary degrees often granted through influence, the DSc aims to genuinely reward senior academicians and industry experts for their contributions. Even professionals from industry without a PhD, but with significant experience, can qualify

CM cannot have any role in VC appointments’: Kerala Governor moves Supreme Court

CM cannot have any role in VC appointments’: Kerala Governor moves Supreme Court

 Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar has moved the Supreme Court seeking to exclude Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan from the process of appointing vice-chancellors to APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and Kerala Digital University.

 Published on:

 04 Sep 2025, 11:44 am 

Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar, in his capacity as Chancellor of state universities, has approached the Supreme Court seeking modification of its August 18 order that allowed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to be part of the process of appointing vice-chancellors (VCs) to APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) and Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology (DUK).

According to The Hindu, the rules governing these universities do not envisage any role for the Chief Minister in VC appointments. “The Chief Minister being the executive head of the state is connected with the number of government colleges, managed by the government and affiliated to the university. Therefore, as per UGC regulations he cannot have any role whatsoever in the appointment of Vice Chancellors,” his application stated.

The plea sought modification of the Supreme Court’s August 18 order, which had appointed former Supreme Court judge Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia as chairperson of the search-cum-selection committees. The order, passed by a Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan, also directed that “recommendations made by the search-cum-selection committee, duly endorsed by the learned chairperson, shall be put up before the chief minister (and not the minister-in-charge of a department) for necessary consideration.”

The court had further said, “In case the Chief Minister, state of Kerala, has reasons to believe that any shortlisted person is unsuitable for appointment as vice-chancellor, the remarks to this effect along with the supporting material and the original record of the recommendation made by the search-cum-selection committee, shall be put up before the learned chancellor within two weeks. The Chief Minister shall be entitled to recommend the shortlisted names in order of preference for appointment as vice-chancellors.”

The Governor, however, said that introducing such a role for the Chief Minister disregards UGC Regulations, which highlight the “independence and autonomy of the universities by excluding any role of the state government.” “Both the University Acts do not provide any role for the minister or the Chief Minister in the matter of selection and appointment of the vice-chancellors,” the plea stressed.

He also sought a judicial direction to implead the UGC in the case, arguing that there is a mandatory requirement to include a nominee of the UGC chairperson in search committees. The Governor submitted, “As per UGC Regulations the Chancellor is having the prerogative to select the Vice Chancellor from the list submitted by the search Committee.” The list, he maintained, should not be a ranked list but a panel of three to five suitable names, leaving the final choice to the Chancellor.

The plea reminded the apex court that in 2023, while dealing with VC appointments at KTU, the Court had “very categorically held that UGC Regulations 2018 shall prevail for appointment of vice chancellors.” It warned that the August 18 order, by introducing a new mechanism involving the Chief Minister, would amount to “a complete disregard to the orders of the coordinate bench of this Hon’ble Court.”

The UGC itself, in a separate application, requested to be made a party to the proceedings. It noted that though the Kerala High Court judgment, against which the current appeal was filed, had quoted extensively from the UGC Act and Supreme Court decisions, the UGC had not been impleaded. “When the UGC regulation is in question, it is mandatory that the UGC should be a party to the deliberations as to whether the UGC Regulations will apply or not,” the Commission said.

The Governor’s move comes against the backdrop of years of tussle between Raj Bhavan and the state government over VC appointments, particularly after the Supreme Court in 2022 quashed the appointment of Rajasree as KTU VC for violating UGC norms. Interim appointments since then have triggered disputes between the Chancellor and the state government, with the Kerala High Court terming some of the Governor’s unilateral actions “illegal.”

IIM-K retains top spot in NIRF for third consecutive year

IIM-K retains top spot in NIRF for third consecutive year 

The institution has sustained its forward momentum with an overall score rising from 74.74 in 2022 to 76.48 in 2023, 77.90 in 2024, and now 79.85 in 2025 

Published - September 04, 2025 07:32 pm IST - KOZHIKODE

THE HINDU BUREAU

In a significant milestone, the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K) has been ranked among the top three management institutions in the country by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) for the third consecutive year. The 10th edition of the prestigious NIRF rankings 2025 was released by Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi on Thursday (September 4, 2025).

“This hat-trick of being ranked among the top three management institutions in India by NIRF is a testimony to IIM-K’s relentless pursuit of academic excellence, diversity, innovation, and inclusivity,” said Prof. Debashis Chatterjee, Director, IIM-K.

“Breaking into the top three in 2023 was a proud milestone,” he added, “but sustaining this position for the next two successive years underscores the dedication and commitment of our faculty, students, alumni, and staff. As we step into our third decade, this recognition inspires us to continue shaping future-ready, humanistic leaders and advancing the global footprint of Indian thought.”

The NIRF, introduced by the Ministry of Education in 2015, ranks institutions based on parameters such as Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR) 30%, Research and Professional Practice (RP) 30%, Graduation Outcomes (GO) 20%, Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) 10%, and Perception (PR) 10%.

A press release said that IIM-K has sustained its forward momentum with an overall score rising from 74.74 in 2022 to 76.48 in 2023, 77.90 in 2024, and now 79.85 in 2025. The nearly two-point improvement over 2024 has enabled IIM-K to significantly close the gap with the older IIMs.

Noteworthy gains were recorded in TLR (86.99 to 87.75) and RP (58.96 to 64.14), underlining the institute’s growing academic depth and expanding research output. GO also improved to 95.35, reflecting strong student placements, entrepreneurial success, and alumni achievements.

This performance strengthens IIM-K’s academic reputation, enhances its visibility in global rankings, and reinforces its appeal to prospective students, recruiters, and international collaborators. The steady upward trajectory validates the institute’s emphasis on inclusivity, innovation, and impact-driven research. The latest ranking further highlights IIM-K’s growing influence in global business education, underscoring its commitment to both academic rigour and social impact.

Published - September 04, 2025 07:32 pm IST