The Himachal Pradesh unit of CPI(M) today accused the state government of reducing HP Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission (HPPEIRC) to a “proxy body” which has deviated from its primary objective of safeguarding the interests of students. The party also ridiculed Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal for chairing the meeting of HPPEIRC despite the fact that it has a chairperson of its own.
Tikender Singh Panwar, member of state secretariat CPI(M) said
“The commission is an independent body and it was shocking to see the chief minister chairing the meeting of the Commission when it has its own Chairperson and the fact that no erring private educational institution has been penalised so far, was enough indication that the commission was serving the interests of the government,”
The CPI(M) said the hype created about setting up the Regulatory Commission to act as a watchdog for Private Educational Institutions and Universities has turned out to be just an eyewash. Panwar said
“If the government facing the allegations of selling out education, particularly the higher education for maximization of profits by the private educational shops assumes the responsibility of pinning down erring Private Institutions, the basic purpose of constituting the Regulatory Commission would be defeated,”
He alleged that the private universities and the state government are hand in glove and playing with the money and career of students, he also blamed that there have been instances where the private universities have admitted students for 5 year integrated courses of Engineering and Management with Matriculation as minimum qualification, which was unheard of. Accusing HPPEIRC of acting as “rubber stamp” of the BJP government, he said the commission has deviated from its basic objective which is to ensure that standards of admissions, teaching examination, research, extension programme, qualified teachers are adhered to and in case of failure of educations institutions to meet the laid down standards, the commission shall have the power to penalize the educational institutions under section 11 of the Act.
It is not the first time when CPI(M) came out against the private universities in State. In the past, Party has also criticizes State Govt for the irregularities in setting up the universities. After BJP student wing APVP harsh word about the Dhumal government as there report alleged that Govt is opening substandard private universities in the state, apparently to facilitate transfer of agriculture land to promoters who could not legally acquire it under the state laws, CPI(M) allegation further putting more pressure on BJP led Government.
