The University Grants Commission (UGC) has prohibited two institutes in Northeast from adding ‘university’ to the names.
In a notification by UGC on May 27, a warning has been issued ‘warnings’ to several hundred institutes across India for illegally adding ‘university’ to the names.
The UGC said it has come to the notice that many institutions which are conferred the status of Deemed to be Universities are adding the word “University”, which is opposed to the spirit of Section 23 of the UGC Act.
The UGC shall take appropriate steps to stop such practice, the notification said.
Notices have been served by the UGC to the Central Institute of Technology (CIT), Kokrajar and the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science & Technology at Nirjuli in Arunachal Pradesh.
According to Section 23 of the UGC Act 1956, the use of the word “University” is prohibited.
“No institution, other than a university established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act shall be entitled to have the word ‘University’ associated with its name in any manner whatsoever,” the UGC notification, said.
As per the Supreme Court orders, the UGC directed to take appropriate steps and implement Section 23 of the UGC Act and restrain Deemed to be Universities from using the word ‘University’ within one month from the issue of the notice.
Keeping in view the provisions of the UGC Act 1956 and directions from Supreme Court UGC has directed the institutions to restrain from using the word ‘University’ with the name of the Deemed to be University.
The institutes cannot use the word ‘university’ in advertisements, website, e-mail addresses, letter heads, communications and hoardings.
And, if the institutes fails to remove the word ‘university’, action would be initiated against the Deemed to be University in accordance with the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2019.
The Institution may mention the word ‘Deemed to be University’, the UGC notification, said.
An institution of higher education, other than a university, doing the work of high standard in a specific area, can be declared as an institution deemed to be a university.