Fines slapped on pvt varsities to act as deterrent: UGC

Fines imposed on private universities by the Apex Court will act as a deterrent against infringement of rules and regulations by these universities in future, according to sources in the University Grants Commission (UGC). In the last two months, the Apex Court fined a number of private universities for enrolment of more than 50 students in the LLB course by flouting UGC directives. On April 23, 2014, the UGC issued a directive, saying that private universities are not allowed to admit more than 50 students in the law department per semester. But at least 11 private universities defied the directive and admitted excessive students in the law faculty. The issue came to light when the students attempted to take part in the Bar Council exams. They were denied registration cards for violating the UGC directive.

On October 1 last year, the Bar Council issued a notification, mentioning that it would not issue registration cards beyond 50 candidates per semester (LLB Honours), who graduated from private universities.

Around 2,000 students of 11 universities at different times

filed writ petitions before the High Court last year, challenging the directive of the UGC.

Following the students’ petitions, the HC, on different dates in September last year, directed the Bar Council to allow students of three private universities to fill up their forms, and to give them registration cards so they can appear for the Bar Council exams. The Bar Council filed three leave to appeal petitions before the SC, challenging the directive. As per the appeal petitions, the SC, on October 27 last year, upheld the HC directive.

The Appellate Division finally fined five universities—the International Islamic University Chittagong, Sylhet Metropolitan University, Southeast University, Eastern University, and Bangladesh Islamia University—for violating the UGC directive in the last two months. In the court, the authorities of these universities admitted their offence. The court fined them and allowed their students to appear for the Bar Council exams after paying the fine.

On February 23, the Appellate Division imposed a fine of Tk. 10 lakh on International Islamic University Chittagong and Sylhet Metropolitan University for breaching the law.

On the other hand, on February 20, the Appellate Division fined South-east University Tk. 10 lakh for enrolling more than 50 students in the LLB course. The court also asked the university authorities to submit the penalty fee to the Bangladesh Bar Council and allow the students to appear for the Bar Council Enrollment Exams after issuing registration cards.

On January 26, the court fined South-east University, Eastern University and Bangladesh Islamia University for admitting students beyond the approved limit set by the UGC.

Talking to The Independent, director of the UGC’s Private Division, Fakrul Islam, said: “The court’s verdict on infringement of laws by private universities is a good step. It’s a warning for the universities not to admit additional students.”

Asked whether other departments have admitted excessive students, Fakhrul said: “We are working on other departments of the private universities to find out whether they have admitted excessive students flouting the laws.” “We are especially paying attention to the pharmacy department of the private universities. According to the Pharmacy Council, the pharmacy department must have eight laboratories. There are around 20 pharmacy departments,” he added.

UGC chairman Prof. Kazi Shahidul Islam said: “Many activities of the private universities had earlier gone unnoticed. But now all are aware what the universities are doing. We cannot allow any one to open new subjects, departments without permission. Even admitting excessive students cannot be allowed.”

“We have to bring them in order. We are continuously sending letters to them and giving advertisements in newspapers to be aware of such students. If students face any trouble in future without knowing a university properly, the UGC would not take the responsibility,” he also said.

“I congratulate the court. Such a verdict will help us. If you don’t comply with the rules, you have to face the music. The UGC is not able to impose fine, but the court is doing that. It’s a kind of a deterrent,” he added.

“If a university faces such huge amount of fines repeatedly, it would not be able to run. Law department is a starting point of such step. This instance would help in future to take action regarding other departments,” he observed. He expressed hope that the private universities would behave responsibly from now on.

 

Fines slapped on pvt varsities to act as deterrent: UGC

Fines imposed on private universities by the Apex Court will act as a deterrent against infringement of rules and regulations by these universities in future, according to sources in the University Grants Commission (UGC). In the last two months, the Apex Court fined a number of private universities for enrolment of more than 50 students in the LLB course by flouting UGC directives. On April 23, 2014, the UGC issued a directive, saying that private universities are not allowed to admit more than 50 students in the law department per semester. But at least 11 private universities defied the directive and admitted excessive students in the law faculty. The issue came to light when the students attempted to take part in the Bar Council exams. They were denied registration cards for violating the UGC directive. On October 1 last year, the Bar Council issued a notification, mentioning that it would not issue registration cards beyond 50 candidates per semester (LLB Honours), who graduated from private universities. Around 2,000 students of 11 universities at different times filed writ petitions before the High Court last year, challenging the directive of the UGC. Following the students petitions, the HC, on different dates in September last year, directed the Bar Council to allow students of three private universities to fill up their forms, and to give them registration cards so they can appear for the Bar Council exams. The Bar Council filed three leave to appeal petitions before the SC, challenging the directive. As per the appeal petitions, the SC, on October 27 last year, upheld the HC directive. The Appellate Division finally fined five universitiesthe International Islamic University Chittagong, Sylhet Metropolitan University, Southeast University, Eastern University, and Bangladesh Islamia Universityfor violating the UGC directive in the last two months. In the court, the authorities of these universities admitted their offence. The court fined them and allowed their students to appear for the Bar Council exams after paying the fine. On February 23, the Appellate Division imposed a fine of Tk. 10 lakh on International Islamic University Chittagong and Sylhet Metropolitan University for breaching the law. On the other hand, on February 20, the Appellate Division fined South-east University Tk. 10 lakh for enrolling more than 50 students in the LLB course. The court also asked the university authorities to submit the penalty fee to the Bangladesh Bar Council and allow the students to appear for the Bar Council Enrollment Exams after issuing registration cards. On January 26, the court fined South-east University, Eastern University and Bangladesh Islamia University for admitting students beyond the approved limit set by the UGC. Talking to The Independent, director of the UGCs Private Division, Fakrul Islam, said: The courts verdict on infringement of laws by private universities is a good step. Its a warning for the universities not to admit additional students. Asked whether other departments have admitted excessive students, Fakhrul said: We are working on other departments of the private universities to find out whether they have admitted excessive students flouting the laws. We are especially paying attention to the pharmacy department of the private universities. According to the Pharmacy Council, the pharmacy department must have eight laboratories. There are around 20 pharmacy departments, he added. UGC chairman Prof. Kazi Shahidul Islam said: Many activities of the private universities had earlier gone unnoticed. But now all are aware what the universities are doing. We cannot allow any one to open new subjects, departments without permission. Even admitting excessive students cannot be allowed. We have to bring them in order. We are continuously sending letters to them and giving advertisements in newspapers to be aware of such students. If students face any trouble in future without knowing a university properly, the UGC would not take the responsibility, he also said. I congratulate the court. Such a verdict will help us. If you dont comply with the rules, you have to face the music. The UGC is not able to impose fine, but the court is doing that. Its a kind of a deterrent, he added. If a university faces such huge amount of fines repeatedly, it would not be able to run. Law department is a starting point of such step. This instance would help in future to take action regarding other departments, he observed. He expressed hope that the private universities would behave responsibly from now on.