By Sampurna Majumder
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a comprehensive investigation in universities and colleges across the state. Yogi clearly declared that every educational institution must go through strict scrutiny, ensuring compliance with recognition and admission rules.
The investigation will be an intensive inspection of all universities and colleges in Uttar Pradesh. It will verify recognition, admissions and courses with strict rules against institutions who are running unapproved programmes.
The decision came into effect after the protest by the members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the BJP in Shree Ram Swaroop Memorial University (SRSMU) over a law course in Barabanki on September 1. The contention was over the recognition of the law course that was run by the university.
Officials confirmed that the reports must be submitted to the government within 15 days and a special investigation team will be recruited for each district. The teams will include senior administrative officers, a police department officer and education department authorities to ensure a full transparency investigation.
Further, as a part of the investigation, each institution is required to submit an affidavit declaring that it is only running the programmes that are duly recognised by the relevant regulatory board or authority and hence prove their transparency. Yogi Adityanath also made it clear that the institutions must provide a list of the classes being conducted, along with the recognition certificates.
The Chief Minister emphasized that no student should be enrolled in any unrecognized courses and any institution found running any unrecognized courses will be drawn to strict punitive action. Such institutions will be also asked to refund the entire money to the student, along with interest.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath instructed Divisional Commissioners to personally supervise the entire process, emphasizing that it was not just a formality but rather a subject that directly affected the futures of the kids and the standard of education.
Additionally, Yogi gave authorities strict instructions, emphasizing that any kind of carelessness or laxity would not be condoned.