Assam Cabinet Resolves To Stringent Assam Private University Act, National Security Clearance Made Mandatory

Guwahati: Having abundance of land and money to construct buildings will not be enough to set up a private university in Assam. At least from now onwards. The Assam Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma decided to make the Assam Private University Act more stringent.

Briefing the media at the Lok Sewa Bhawan in Dispur, Chief Minister Sarma informed that from now onwards, national security clearance will be mandatory to obtain before setting up an university in Assam. “Security Clearance from national security angle now mandatory for opening private university in Assam. Only having land and building will not make them eligible, national security clearance will be required. The clearance will be given by the Home & Political Dept,” Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

He also mentioned that the private universities will have to uphold the secular fabric. Stating that the direct or indirect involvement in conversion activities will lead to cancellation of the registration, he said, “The universities will have to be secular and they will not directly or indirectly involve themselves in any issues like conversion. If any such complaint is received their registration will be cancelled.”

The cabinet decision comes at a time when several complaints of irregularities and foul practices have been raised against University of Science & Technology Meghalaya (USTM), a private university in Meghalaya run by ERD Foundation situated in Assam.

It may also be mentioned that the founder of ERD Foundation and chancellor of USTM, Mahbubul Haque is currently in judicial custody after complaints were filed against him for allegedly promising students to help them adopt unfair practice to pass the 12th Board Exams at Central Public School in Patharkandi. Central Public School is run by the ERD Foundation.

Meanwhile, the move by the Assam cabinet has been welcomed by the students, guardians as well as educationists.