SC to hear SOA plea on November 22

BHUBANESWAR: The Supreme Court will hear on November 22 the case of 44 ‘deemed’ universities, including that of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) here, which have challenged the Union Human Resource Development Ministry’s move to de-recognise their deemed status. The apex court had stayed the government’s decision to withdraw recognition given to these universities in January, 2010. The uncertainty over the status of these universities had arisen following the report of the Tandon Committee, set up by the Ministry, to evaluate the institutions. The Supreme Court had asked the Centre to appoint another committee to review the functioning of these universities. The Ministry had appointed an officers’ committee which maintained that it did not find any ground to interfere with the conclusions of the Tandon Committee. Sources in the SOA said the varsity had presented its case afresh before the committee on the steps taken for improving infrastructure, faculty strength and preparation of scientific research papers. It pointed out that though the university boasts of more than 600 high-quality research papers, only 17 were listed. The varsity also said the decision was taken by the Committee without any spot verification.