Career of Students in Dark – No Check on self-styled private educational institutions

 Himachal Pradesh once known as an education hub for various world-famous educational institutions slowly putting the careers of thousands of students in the dark over the lack of checks on the working of a number of Private Educational institutions in the state.

The post of HP  private Education Institution Regularity Commission (HPPEIRC) chairman has been lying vacant for the last two months and private universities are left at their whims and fancy forcing many students to leave institutions and make poor enrollment.

According to commission officials Major General Atul Koshik retired from chairman on 31st August 2023. Since then one member posted in the commission. 

The commission was concerned over the fate of Pvt educational institution Arni University situated in Kathgarh of Kangra district in Himachal.

Notices were served to Pvt educational institutions including Arni and Indus Universities recently. 

The health of the University established in 2009 by an act passed in the state assembly was not good due to lack of support by the Trustee member and litigation in the court. 

Commission issued notice to Management to attend meetings with its members following complaints of some of the parents and students about poor enrollment and functioning but management informed the commission that litigation was pending at Delhi High Court between Trustees forcing HPPEIRC now decide to appoint an administrator to run the academic activities and enrollment in the campus.

An RTI received from the commission also indicated a similar state of affairs in another private Education Institution Indus University.

RTI activist Ajay Kumar was informed by the commission that notices were served by the commission over the anomalies in Indus International University at Una.

The Commission informed that a year ago on October 27, 2022  action was recommended to the State Government to conduct a detailed Inspection of the Indus International University at State Government.

Before recommending action commision also conducted an inspection of Indus International University to ascertain the standards of admission, teaching, examination, faculty, and infrastructure being maintained by the said University in accordance with the norms as specified by the Central and State Regulatory bodies.

The commission had also appointed a Committee on the function of the University which has revealed that during the Academic Session 2019-20, said University admitted only 135 students, during 2020-21, the University admitted only 55 students and for the session 2021-22, the university failed to get any admissions and as of now for the session 2022-23, the university received 166 applications and registrations for both undergraduate and postgraduate Programmes.

The commission also showed concern about a constant decline in enrolment of students in the said University and hence has not become viable to run the University with much less strength. 

The committee stated that even with such small numbers of students, it is not feasible for the University to maintain requisite standards and quality of education.

 The shortfall in faculty has also been found by the Inspection Committee and even those are not being paid salary as per UGC norms. The financial viability of the University to sustain itself is doubtful.

Commission now decided that in view of the position of the University, it is of the view that a detailed Inspection of the said University might be conducted at the State Govt. level and appropriate orders may be initiated against Indus International University under section 42 of the parent Act, of the said University.

The State Government is expected to fill up the post of Chairman of HPPEIRC soon as various similar issues are pending before these regulatory bodies including Arni University of Kangra.

 The concerned official of HPPEIRC confirmed the anomalies in both universities however state government officials didn’t issue any rebuttal on the development when asked on the issue.

The commission was constituted to keep the tab on such institutions that were opened in the state after 2008 in large numbers. Manav Bharti University was also under probe for selling Degrees to thousands of students without their proper enrollment and in violation of rules. A SIT of the State Government Vigilance Department was probing the fake degree scams in such Educational institutions. Commission slapped heavy fines on a medical education institution for charging exorbitant fees to the students.

Various complaints are pending before the commission but due to a lack of quorum in the regulatory body, the Educational Commission proved toothless so far.