Mumbai: The task force is facing criticism for not finding any solution for the miserable future of the students of the 44 blacklisted deemed universities of India. The students on question, along with foreign students, have pursued the professional courses offered by the blacklisted deemed universities, including engineering courses.
There has been a big problem regarding the resettlement of the students of these blacklisted deemed Universities, which have no validity now. These universities had established their branches in different parts of India and also in abroad, which has been prohibited by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Similarly, there is a provision that foreign universities can settle in India, but no provision has been brought for the exit of these foreign Universities. Experts have indicated that the country is in an awkward position with no exit policy.
As per the report of the task force, the courses imparted in foreign universities must be affiliated to one of the state universities, if this is permitted under the law governing such universities. Some of the institutes in India have started plying their off-campuses and also violated the specific norms. These institutes include Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry, Vinayak Mission's Research Foundation, Salem and Barath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai.
Furthermore, the report elaborated that any new institution with no prior affiliation to any university after obtaining the 'deemed to be university' status has to seek a new affiliation to a recognized state university. The sources reveal that states don’t have vacant seats to accommodating such students of blacklisted deemed universities. However, those who were enrolled in the distance learning courses would be further admitted to either the state Open University or Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). The future of those students, who are admitted in such courses that violate rules and can not be referred to distance learning mode, is in uncertainty.
