Separate HC bench likely soon to deal with stalled cases

The government is going to set up a special bench at the High Court (HC) to settle the long-pending lawsuits against a section of dishonest private universities for what is described as education commerce, according to a senior official.
Earlier, the University Grants Commission (UGC) had sought necessary help from the government, the ministries of home and of law in particular, and the judiciary to press the brake on illicit schooling business by such institutions.
"We will request the authorities of the apex court to set up a special bench in this connection," Education Secretary Dr Mohammad Sadiq said.
He said they would have a meeting over the issue tomorrow (Monday).  
In addition, the ministry also has taken necessary action to ensure strong coordination among legal affairs officials and officials of the commission to work together on this matter.
Mr Sadiq said they will pursue the authorities concerned to take judicial move immediately as some "fraudulent private universities are doing certificate business in the name of education".
Meanwhile, issuing a release, the grants commission Friday said that there are some 116 branches of 79 private universities operating with UGC approval.
However, it didn't name the names of the errant universities. It said there would be a further notice naming the illegal institutions.
The regulator in the vital field like higher education also asked the university- admission aspirants and guardians to remain alert about the mushrooming private varsities running with perverse purpose.
Nearly a million students just passed the Higher Secondary Certificate and HSC- equivalent examinations and the universities are already starting the process of intake from among the horde. Many would have to turn to private varsities as public ones have limited capacity.                
 "We' will list soon those universities who are running their business taking the advantage of the court orders of stay," said UGC Member Atful Hai Shibli.
He deplored that despite repeated warnings from the regulatory body, a good number of students would take their admission into these private universities to 'buy' academic certificate.
"We won't take responsibility for those students who will do this despite repeated warning from the commission," he said.
Of the 79 private universities in the country, 11 are allegedly involved in 'certificate businesses' and have ownership disputes and illegal outer campuses.
In its release the regulator said under the private university act, the vice-chancellor is the academic and administrative chief of a university but, in some cases, they can't carry out their duties through misuse of power.
It said stay orders on UGC ban on these illegal campuses and case delays were creating scope for these universities to carry on "so-called" academic programmes.