Haryana Private Universities Bill likely to be passed on Monday; would impact functioning of Al Falah University
CHANDIGARH: The BJP-led Haryana Government has tabled the Haryana Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the state assembly, outlining stringent measures, including the dissolution of the university's management body and the takeover of its functioning through the appointment of an administrator.
According to sources, the bill, which was introduced in the state assembly on Friday by State Higher Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda, will have a direct impact on the functioning of Al Falah University, which has been under the scanner for allegedly facilitating a "white-collar terror module."
The proposed law allows the government to intervene in the administration or dissolve the management if the institution is found to be involved in "any grave lapses, including matters relating to national security, sovereignty and integrity of India, public security, law and order, misuse of university premises for unlawful and anti-national activities or any other serious act prejudicial to public interest."
"If any such act has occurred, the government may order any inquiry into any such act, contraventions, or lapses and appoint an inquiry officer or a committee consisting of not more than five persons for this purpose,’’ the bill reads.
Introducing the bill, the minister asserted that under the current provisions of the law, the dissolution of the university and the appointment of the administrator were not possible.
"A new provision needs to be inserted to streamline the procedure," he said.
According to the proposed law, if any wrongdoing is suspected, an official or a committee shall conduct an inquiry and submit a report to the government within 30 days.
The committee will be vested with the powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
After the government receives the report, it can issue a show cause notice giving the university seven days to reply.
"Upon consideration of the reply to the show-cause, if the government is not satisfied, it may appoint an administrator for a period of three years,’’ it added.
"The university shall not commence the first enrolment of the students without the specific authorisation of the government. It has been authorised to cancel the permission to continue the course after an inquiry, ” the bill added.
The bill also proposes a minimum penalty of Rs 10 lakh in case the university is found to be involved in any illegal activities.
The Higher Education Department, through another provision, has been authorised to conduct an annual academic and administrative audit of the university to ascertain the standards of teaching, examination, and research.