There have been reports about the unfair practices in admission and related matters by institutions for higher education and exploiting students by charging capitation fee. This was confirmed by HRD Minister Smriti Irani in a written reply to the Lok Sabha question on 9th July.
The AICTE has informed that in 02 cases collection of capitation fee was proved. It has imposed stiff penalties and directed refund of the capitation fee amount.
UGC has informed that it has taken up the complaints with the appropriate authorities of the concerned institutions and also with the Central Bureau of Investigation in one case for necessary action.
The Government has taken various measures to curb the commercialization of higher education. Accordingly, the UGC has issued the UGC Establishment and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities, 2003. Para 3.9 of these regulations provide that “the admission procedure and fixation of fees shall be in accordance with the norms/guidelines prescribed by the UGC and other concerned statutory bodies. The UGC has also issued the UGC (Institutions Deemed-to- be Universities) Regulations 2010. Para 6.5 of these Regulations provides that, “the level of the fees charged for the courses offered in deemed-to-be universities shall have a reasonable relation to the cost of running the course. The fee structure shall be displayed in the prospectus and on the institution’s website”. The UGC has further issued the UGC (Institutions Deemed-to- be Universities) (Amendment) Regulations 2014. According to these amended regulations the deemed to be universities have to mandatorily publish a Prospectus before commencement of admission process indicating the details of the fee structure, the number of seats approved for each course, the age limit prescribed for candidates etc. The regulations prohibit such universities from publishing any advertisement inducing students for taking admission claiming to be recognized by appropriate authority where it is not so recognized.
