Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a sweeping inquiry into private universities, colleges, and educational institutions across Uttar Pradesh to ensure transparency and accountability in higher education. The move comes after the exposure of an unrecognised law course at Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University in Barabanki.
Special investigation committees will be formed in every district under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate, with oversight by Divisional Commissioners. Each committee will include the Senior Superintendent of Police and education department officials.
They will collect affidavits from institutions confirming that only recognised courses are being run, along with details of seat numbers and approvals from regulatory bodies such as UGC, AICTE, BCI, MCI, NCTE, PCI, among others.
The government has directed Divisional Commissioners to submit district-wise reports within 15 days. Institutions found guilty of irregularities will face strict action, including mandatory refund of student fees with interest.
Complaints of fake recognition and illegal admissions have surfaced for years, but the issue came to a head during recent protests against Shri Ramswaroop University. Several students and ABVP activists were injured in a police lathi-charge, following which ABVP office-bearers met the Chief Minister.
It is believed that this meeting and reports of large-scale irregularities prompted the CM’s tough directive.
Currently, Uttar Pradesh has 47 private universities and around 7,400 private colleges, with more than 2.8 lakh students enrolled in private universities alone. Allegations of fake mark sheets and mismanagement have surfaced in several institutions, including Monad University in Hapur, which is already under investigation.
Although the Higher Education Council set up five special teams in May to probe private universities, those investigations never began.
Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay announced that, alongside the probe, the government is developing a new portal, similar to the Samarth portal, to bring all private universities and colleges under one digital platform. The portal will help track recognition status, streamline admissions, and ensure accountability.
With the CM’s firm stance, officials say no institution will be allowed to “play with the future of students” by running unrecognised courses in the state.