Guwahati, March 4: In a significant move to regulate private universities, the Assam Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has introduced stringent new guidelines under the Assam Private University Act. The decision, announced on Tuesday at Lok Sewa Bhawan, addresses growing concerns over irregularities and potential security risks associated with private educational institutions.
A key highlight of the new regulations is the mandatory requirement for national security clearance before establishing any private university. Chief Minister Sarma emphasized that merely having land and infrastructure will no longer guarantee approval. “Security clearance from a national security perspective is now mandatory for opening a private university in Assam. This clearance will be provided by the Home and Political Departments,” he stated.
Additionally, the Cabinet has mandated that private universities must adhere to the state’s secular principles. Institutions found involved in direct or indirect religious conversions will face severe consequences, including the cancellation of their registration. “The universities will have to maintain a secular approach. They will not directly or indirectly engage in any form of religious conversion,” Sarma warned.
The move comes amid scrutiny of the University of Science & Technology Meghalaya (USTM), operated by the ERD Foundation. The institution has been accused of malpractices, with its founder, Mahbubul Haque, currently in judicial custody. Haque, also the Chancellor of USTM, faces allegations of aiding students in unfair examination practices at the Central Public School in Patharkandi, another institution managed by the ERD Foundation.
The new regulations aim to ensure transparency, accountability, and adherence to Assam’s cultural and secular values, setting a higher benchmark for private universities in the state.
