Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Govt led by LG Manoj Sinha has ordered the implementation of the J&K public universities bill 2022 and proposed that the government may establish new universities by converting existing colleges into universities or by merging one or more existing universities or uniting a cluster of colleges into a Cluster University or it can also close any existing public university.
Stating the incorporation, objects, powers, and functions, of the establishment of a new university, the bill reads, “The Government may, by amendment of the Schedule-I to this Act, followed by notification in the official gazette establish new universities by such name and for such jurisdiction as may be notified.”
The bill further states that the Government may also establish and incorporate, teaching-intensive universities, research-intensive universities, Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs), or any other Universities in consonance with the spirit and guidelines of the National Education Policy 2020 and to inter alia give equal access to higher education to all citizens.
“The Government may establish new Universities by converting existing colleges into universities or by merging one or more existing universities or uniting a cluster of colleges into a Cluster University and notifying them as such after including them under Schedule-I (Part-II) of the Act,” reads the bill.
It further states that the government may alter the jurisdiction of any university.
The bill further reads, “The Government may also change the composition or jurisdiction of cluster universities by de-notifying, deleting or modifying colleges which are currently constituent colleges of a cluster university or notifying or adding new colleges to the composition of such universities.”
According to the Jammu and Kashmir public universities bill, 2022, the government may also close any existing public university.
Earlier, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha-led Administrative Council (AC) gave its nod to the Jammu and Kashmir Public University Bill-2022 to address the issues about a wide variety of universities in Jammu and Kashmir. “The government intends to frame a common Public University Bill which would apply to all public universities of UT of J&K,” the Raj Bhavan had said.
