Private institution promoting itself in the name of satellite town

Is it Noida's University?

Private institution promoting itself in the name of satellite town

There is nothing new to the modus operandi. Students realise it only too late by which time the damage is already done.

An alert parent saw some hoardings erected on NH-24 and few places in Noida, declaring that Noida University is inviting applications for registration in various courses. He then decided to visit its website to check the antecedents of the institution.

The website says that the Noida International University (NIU) is to be enacted by the Uttar Pradesh State Govt under the "Noida International University Uttar Pradesh Act, 2010" and will be notified through an official Gazette notification with the right to confer degrees as per sections 2(f) and 22(1) of the UGC Act 1956.
"How can a university start its registration process which has still not come into existence?" said the perplexed parent, who refused to be named.

When MiD DAY contacted the helpline number given on the website, an official from the university said that the bill has been passed in the assembly and the signature of the Governor is the only thing left. "The first batch will start from September 16 and the proposed buildings displayed on the website will be there by December end."

A University Grants Commission official said advertising before an instituttion comes into existence and admitting students is illegal. "This is another case where an institute is playing with the future of students. Till now it has not been given the status of university. How can the organisation claim so strongly that the governor will sign the bill by August end? Anything can happen in future and the university must start admission process once all the formalities are over," he said.

On being questioned on the usage of Noida in their name, the official said, "It's up to the state to allot the name. If the government is satisfied, they can do that."

Earlier, the government told the Supreme Court that it decided to de-recognise 44 deemed universities in the country on charges that they were being run as organisations, owned or controlled by one family, rather than on academic considerations.

However, dissatisfied with the mode and manner in which the Centre decided to accept Tandon Committee report, the Supreme Court sought details of lacunae in each case intending to take up the scrutiny all by itself.

When MiD DAY contacted the Vice-Chancellor (Designate) of the university he refused to announce any dates for the first batch. S N Kulkarni said: "We have just started the registration process, not the admission process.
u00a0
If we go by the rule book we can do so. The bill is with the honorable governor and we are hoping to get his clearance soon. However if it doesn't get passed, we will refund the money of all the students."

Clearing the air on the name of the university, Kulkarni told MiD DAY: "We proposed for 'Noida University' however the assembly changed the name and suggested the name 'Noida International University'.u00a0 We are in the process of changing all the hoardings and posters that were earlier put up with the old name. However it will take some time."

LESSON LEARNT
Two people were arrested on August 18 for allegedly cheating students by promising them admissions to prestigious colleges of the Delhi University.
"Hitesh, 19, and Shakti, 21, were arrested from their homes in Nirankari Colony and Model Town, respectively, in north Delhi," a police officer said.
Police acted on complaints filed by two girl students.
"Hitesh and Shakti promised them a seat in a college in North Campus and demanded Rs.4.17 lakh along with their original marks-sheet and other certificates," the officer said.
The duo also gave the students fake receipt of Rs.12,000 for the payment of the college fees. Later, when the girl students tried to get in touch with them, the accused had switched off their cellphones.
"Police recovered Rs.70,000 in cash and certificates from the youths. During interrogation, they revealed that they burnt the students' certificates," the officer added.