Wednesday, 27 January 2010 18:50 Salai Pi Pi
New Delhi (Mizzima) - The Supreme Court of India staying the Central government’s move to de-recognize 44 ‘Deemed Universities’ has come as a balm to students, including Burmese monks studying in Nalanda University in Bihar state.
Indasara, a Burmese monk studying at the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara Deemed University, told Mizzima on Tuesday that most students welcomed the Supreme Court’s order on Monday staying the Centre from trying to strip the deemed status of 44 universities across India.
“We are pleased with the SC’s decision as they [heads of universities] found time to put in place the necessary number of professors, which was the main reason for Nalanda being put in the list by the Centre,” said Indasara.
Indasara said the students in Nalanda University, which is a popular learning centre for Buddhist doctrines and Pali in India, are awaiting the re-opening of the university, which was closed since the Central government last week announced its plan to strip it off its ‘deemed’ university status.
On Monday, a bench of Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice AK Patnaik of the SC issued a status quo, assuring several counsels of the 44 deemed universities, who argued that the government’s plan to de-recognize the ‘deemed status’ of universities will make the future of students uncertain.
"Nothing will happen to your institutions and your students till we dispose of the matter," Indian media reports quoted Justice Bhandari as saying.
The Supreme Court also ordered each of the 44 deemed universities to have its say on the issue and adjourned the matter till the next hearing on March 8.
The Human Resource Development Ministry of India last week wanted to de-recognize the deemed status of 44 Universities across India including Nava Nalanda Mahavihara University saying the institutions lacked infrastructure and expertise.
The Centre’s decision sparked widespread protests by nearly two lakh students from the 44 universities across India.
Last week, over 80 students, including Burmese monks in Nalanda University, held a protest rally in front of the office of the university accusing the Vice-Chancellor of failing to focus on the development of the institution and demanded his resignation.
Indasara said, “The future of Nalanda University depends on the work of the VC, who needs to fulfill the required standard of what the institution is committed to.”
Nalanda University has nearly 600 students including 97 Burmese studying mostly Buddhist religious doctrine and Pali language.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
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