Deemed university row: SC refuses stay on fresh admissions

The 44 deemed universities sought to be de-recognised by the government today got a reprieve with the Supreme Court refusing to stay any fresh admissions to these institutes.

A bench of Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Gyan Sudha Misra rejected the Union HRD Ministry's plea for an injunction against any fresh admissions which are likely to commence from July.

The apex court said that it could not pass any such injunction order as the validity of the very constitution of the high-powered Tondon Committee is under challenge.

The review committee headed by Professor P N Tondon had earlier recommended derecognition of the 44 institutes spread across the country on the ground that they failed to meet the standard required for sustaining status of a "deemed" university.

Though Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium, appearing for the government, pleaded that at least, a condition be imposed that any fresh admissions would be subject to the final outcome of the case pending in the apex court, the bench was in no mood to grant any relief to the Centre.

"The constitution of the committee is itself under challenge, it has to be adjudicated first. There is no point in passing any injunction. It would not be appropriate for us to pass any injunction," the bench said.

The apex court pointed out that there are allegations that Professor Tondon himself was heading a deemed university and it was not appropriate for him to head the high-powered committee which sought de-recognition of the aggrieved universities.

Hence, the bench asked the government and the varsities to file their replies and rejoinders so that it could take up the matter for further hearing on August 3.