All deemed universities should get AICTE nod says SC

Deemed-to-be universities across the nation offering technical and engineering courses should henceforth get sanction from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). All these years, such universities had been reporting to the University Grants Commission (UGC). They also used to take their own decision on matters like increasing seats or starting a new course as there was no regulating authority.

In view of this order only those universities, which had been established by a Central, or a State law can be called a university and no institution, which has been recognised as a deemed university can use the word ‘university’.

Dismissing the applications for modification of the order, the bench refused to accept the argument that an institution of excellence, which is, conferred the DU status by the Central government on the recommendations of the University Grants Commission should be allowed to use the DU nomenclature.

The bench said “An institution of excellence can continue to remain an institute of excellence even without using the word ‘university’.”