Raman steps up offensive against erring Jogi varsities

In a move that could affect the future of 109 private universities sanctioned by the previous government ‘‘in violation of norms&#...

In a move that could affect the future of 109 private universities sanctioned by the previous government ‘‘in violation of norms’’, the Raman Singh government today proposed to set up a regulatory commission to oversee the functioning of all these universities and enforce UGC guidelines.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Raman Singh.

At least 90 of the universities have become functional and many of them work from rented single or two-room accommodations and do not even have the basic requirements prescribed in the Chhattisgarh Private Universities Act.

The government has also announced the setting up of a five-member ministerial committee to give more teeth to the Act. ‘‘This committee will study the provisions of the Act, violations made by the private universities and recommend changes,’’ said Home Minister Brij Mohan Aggarwal late this evening.

Aggarwal said the government will not ‘‘act in a hurry’’ and close down the universities because it would put at stake the future of hundreds of students. ‘‘Ajit Jogi did not think about the consequences, but we know only the students will suffer if the universities are closed down,’’ he added.

Last month, the government had imposed a ban on the opening of new private universities. ‘‘Things had become so bad that the opening of a university had become easier than starting a college or school. It would have been a record of sorts, a three-year-old state coming up with 109 private universities,’’ Aggarwal said.