Mumbai: The state govt has set up a high-level expert committee to review and overhaul the norms governing the establishment and functioning of private universities in the state in a govt resolution (GR) issued on Friday. The six-member expert committee will be headed by former UGC vice-chairman Bhushan Patwardhan. The committee has been asked to review the infrastructure requirements for private universities, including land, buildings, laboratories, digital facilities, hostels, among others.The committee will also look at the academic credentials and experience of institutions seeking to establish universities, including their NAAC accreditation, National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings, autonomous status, faculty strength, research publications and patents. Private universities in the state are currently governed by the Maharashtra Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2023, the regulations framed in 2024. The GR also highlighted the shortcomings and gaps in the existing regulatory framework. The govt has directed the committee to complete its review and submit its recommendations within two months.Admission procedures, reservation policies, fee fixation, grievance redressal mechanisms and recruitment and pay norms for teaching and non-teaching staff will also come under its review. The committee has been tasked with reviewing the infrastructure requirements for private universities, including land, buildings, laboratories, libraries, digital facilities, hostels, sports infrastructure and accessibility for persons with disabilities.The panel will also review compliance with statutory regulators such as the UGC, AICTE, PCI and BCI and recommend amendments to bring the state’s framework in line with the UGC Act, 1956, and the National Education Policy 2020.The committee has further been asked to incorporate directions issued by courts in matters concerning private higher education institutions.Former Savitribai Phule Pune University vice-chancellor Nitin Karmalkar is among the members. The panel will also include the joint/deputy secretary (university education) in the higher and technical education department, directors of technical education, arts and higher education, with the director of higher education serving as member secretary.
