CM orders probe into recognition,admissions of varsities, colleges in UP | Lucknow News
Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday ordered a probe into the recognition and admission processes of all courses offered by higher learning institutions, including those run privately, across the state.This step has been taken to ensure transparency and accountability in Uttar Pradesh’s higher education system.The action came a day after the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of RSS, met the Chief Minister following its recent protests against alleged irregularities in the Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University, Barabanki, and lathicharge on its activists on Sept 1.Following the CM’s order, a special investigation committee headed by the district magistrate has been constituted in each district. Each team will include a senior administrative officer, SSP/SP concerned and an officer from the education department. These teams will conduct ground-level inspections to verify the authenticity of the recognition and admission processes in the institutions. The inquiry team in each district will have to finish the probe and submit a consolidated report to the govt in the next 15 days.Every institution will have to submit an affidavit declaring that it is running only those courses duly recognised by the relevant regulatory authority, university, or board, said a govt spokesperson.As per a govt order issued by principal secretary, higher education, MP Agarwal, institutions will have to provide a list of all the courses being run and, along with them, the details of recognition by UGC and other related statutory bodies like AICTE, Bar Council of India, Distance Education Council, Dental Council of India, Indian Nursing Council, Medical Council of India, National Council for Teachers Education (NCTE), Pharmacy Council of India etc., along with the number of seats or approval of the university/board/regulatory body.“No student should be enrolled in any unrecognised programme. Under no circumstances will students’ futures be put at stake,” the CM said.Yogi warned of strict punitive action in case illegal admissions or unrecognised courses are found. Such institutions will have to refund the entire fee collected from students, along with interest.Stressing that this action is not a mere formality but a matter directly linked to students’ future and the quality of education, Yogi directed divisional commissioners to monitor the entire process personally. The CM has issued strict directions to officials against zero tolerance for negligence or laxity at any level.On Sunday, ABVP office bearers called off the protests on the CM’s assurance that their demands would be met. The demands of ABVP included FIR and action against the police personnel involved in the lathicharge on students. They demanded that the names of officials who ordered the police action on protesters be made public and a high-level inquiry be conducted into the illegal law course being run at the university. They also sought an investigation into the collection of late fees and social welfare charges, as well as the removal of the alleged encroachment on govt land by Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University.Following the Sept 1 lathicharge on students during protests, the CM had ordered the immediate removal of the Circle Officer in Barabanki. Later, four other policemen involved in the incident were suspended. ABVP had given a 48-hour ultimatum to the state govt to meet their demands, warning of intensifying their protests. The deadline ended on Saturday evening, after which the outfit launched a social media campaign seeking justice in the SRMU incident with a warning to continue protests until all demands were met.On Saturday, the Barabanki district administration demolished an illegal building on the university campus.
