Academicians welcome Supreme Court order restraining private universities from operating with profit motive

Academicians have welcomed a recent order of the Supreme Court restraining private universities from operating with profit motive.

Finances or resources generated by these institutions must be utilised only for ensuring smooth functioning and compensating teaching and non-teaching staff suitably, it said.

The Supreme Court order also instructed States to direct these universities to submit audited reports for the past five years, with regard to the funds generated, their utilisation, and payments made to individuals who may not be directly involved in the functioning of the university as an educational institution.

These universities should also be required to furnish details of what benefits it has taken from the Central and State governments with regard to allotment of land and other relaxations in the existing laws or any other privilege conferred on them.