Acting tough against state universities for operating centres outside their jurisdiction area, the UGC on Wednesday directed all the states to comply with the rules of UGC Act 1956 else strict action would be initiated against errant universities. Setting aside the power of state legislatures to establish state universities and private universities by passing an Act in their respective legislative assemblies, the UGC has directed all the state universities to take prior permission to start off-campus. In a letter issued to all <g data-gr-id="14">vice chancellors</g> of all state universities, the UGC said, “It has been brought to the notice of the UGC that some state universities/state private universities are running <g data-gr-id="15">off-campuses</g> and study centres outside the territorial jurisdiction of the state in which they have been established without taking prior permission of UGC for establishing these centres, which is violation of UGC Act.”
The UGC letter also said that no off-campus/study centre/outreach centre is to be established by any esteemed university outside the territorial jurisdiction of the state. “If a private university, even within the state, starts off-campus/study centre, it has to be established with the prior approval of the UGC,” the UGC said.