State to crack whip on illegal study centres

Takes up the issue of unauthorised educational institutions with UGC

Hyderabad: The State government has asked the University Grant Commission (UGC) to take action against institutions which are operating without permission.

Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari said institutions based in other States without any proper permission would not be allowed to function in the State, as government was also considering bringing in legislation to regulate such institutions.

Replying during the Question Hour on Tuesday in the Legislative Council, the Deputy Chief Minister informed that there were eight such institutions affiliated to Dr B R Ambedkar University, Agra (UP), Singareni University and J S University, Shikohabad were functioning in the city for some time.

However, he felt that the regulation of these universities was under the purview of the UGC. Srihari said that the Telangana State Council of Higher Education was examining the cases of such study centres offering B Sc Agriculture and MBA courses. He said earlier, a press note was also released to create awareness among the students on the issue.

The Minister further informed that universities can establish study centres or institutions under permission from the State government or the UGC, which was not followed by the case of eight institutions. Hence, the matter was taken up with the UGC. “We are also considering if these universities can be brought to book by any law. Definitely, we shall regulate all such irregular institutions,” he said.

Earlier Congress Deputy Floor Leader, Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy expressed concern that students were being taken for a ride by unauthorised institutions, which were being run in and around Ashok Nagar in Hyderabad. He felt that the students who were spending thousands of rupees were falling prey to such institutions and were losing money. These institutions are offering BSc Agriculture and other PG courses.