BANGALORE: The body for regulation and maintenance of higher education in India, University Grants Commission, ordered 10 Indian institutions to right away shut their off-campus centers, reports Business Insider. It has been found out that these institutions have been set up against policies of the commission and are not authorized. The list of these institutes include Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Uttar Pradesh, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies University, BITS Pilani, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Indian School of Mines Dhanbad, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Science and Technology (PRIST), Banasthali University (Rajasthan), Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra and The Lakshmibai National University of Physical Education (LNIPE) in Gwalior. Most of these institutes are funded by youth affair ministry. As per the report from the HRD ministry 2009, these establishments have secured places as the top notch institutes in the nation, excepting PRIST.

Notices of shutting down campuses were sent off by Deputy Secretary of UGC, Sunita Siwach. The establishment of these institutes has taken place violating the clause 6 of the UGC guidelines and Article 12(5) of the Deemed University regulations of 2010. A report on this notice is expected from these institutes within a month stating their action on the same.

The notice hasn’t received much positive response from these institutes. The vice-chancellor of Homi Bhabha National Institute, Prof RB Grover was taken aback by the notice from UGC. "We have not yet received the communication but we are quite taken aback at this. This has to be some misunderstanding and we would like a dialogue with them on the matter," he said. "It is quite surprising as UGC as per its own gazette notification has approved HBNI as a deemed university with all its ten constituents. If there are some recent changes, then they must give us sufficient time to meet new requirements. Asking us to close these down will be very perturbing," he added.

The notice added that these institutes were set up without availing an approval from the HRD ministry and if he notice instructions are not followed actions would be taken against them.

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