New Delhi, June 17: Expressing concern over the mushroom growth of "fake" universities, University Grants Commission (UGC) has proposed comprehensive changes in the UGC Act to provide for deterrent punishment to such institutions. The UGC has also set up a special cell known as Malpractices Cell to deal with this problem by disseminating information on the subject so as to ensure that students are not duped into joining these institutions.

The cell will liaison with different agencies, as also with the Central and state governments, considered necessary for checking the growth of such institutions, according to UGC sources.

This cell was set up following the recommendations by a parliamentary standing committee that some mechanism be evolved to check the activities of such unauthorised institutions.

Listing out 18 fake institutions as on May one, 2000, the UGC said HRD minister has also written to all chief ministers asking them to maintain strict vigil over the educational institutions for the purpose of identifying which provisions of the law they are not adhering to and prosecute them.

The chief ministers have also been asked to issue suitable instructions to the registrars of societies that they should consult UGC whenever any educational institution seeks to register.

Bureau Report