State ready with bill to curb bogus varsities

Updated on: Monday, May 02, 2011

Bogus or unauthorised educational institutions which take students for a ride under the pretext of offering technical and professional courses will have to pull down the shutters. The state government is ready with a bill to curb unauthorised institutions. An ordinance will be issued within a fortnight once the state cabinet gives its consent to the Maharashtra Unauthorised Institutes and courses in Technical and Vocational Education Bill.

Minister for higher and technical education Rajesh Tope said, “The law and judiciary department has okayed the draft bill. It will be put before the state cabinet in the first week of May. Once state cabinet approves it, an ordinance will be issued to this effect immediately.”

The move comes following the Bombay high court directives to state government to take steps to put brakes on increasing number of fake institutes and courses in the state.

Tope said, “Bogus institutions have mushroomed in the state over the years. These institutes are not equipped, in terms infrastructure and academic excellence, to train students.”

According to the provisions in the draft, bogus institutes will have to refund the fees collected from the students. There is also a provision to levy a fine, which ranges from Rs one lakh to Rs five lakh. Offenders may face one-year imprisonment, Tope added.

The bill has also suggested measures against advertisements by spurious training institutes in the state.

Finance department nod for private varsities bill

The universities Bill to promote in the private state has been okayed by the state planning and finance department. The Bill was introduced in the Maharashtra legislative assembly last week and is likely to be approved in both houses during the monsoon session.

State ready with bill to curb bogus varsities

More Education news