Shimla: In its unprecedented decision, the Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission has suspended approval of courses of four private universities for academic session 2020-21 till further orders.

All these private Universities are facing probe for alleged irregularities.

The Commission has barred Manav Bharti University, Indus International University, Arni University and AP Goyal Shimla University for taking fresh admissions for 2020-21 session.

Commission in its order observed

The commission has taken a serious view on the repeated gross violation of the provisions of the parent Act. of the University as well as HP-PERC Act by certain State Private Universities & allegations levelled from the reliable sources has prompted the state govt to act accordingly and a prove was ordered for fact finding through SIT and registering FIR(s) against these universities. The inquiries have been completed and still these Universities have not been absolved for allegation levelled which are of serious nature affecting the academic activities in these Institutions.”

In such a course for the Academic Session 2020-21 for Manav Bharti University, Indus International University, APG Shimla University and Arni University be kept in abeyance till further orders. Order further read.

Commission has initiated these order as per the mandate of the commission, under Section 9 of HP-PERC Act, to maintain academic standards in private Higher Education Institutions.

Manav Bharti university and APG Shimla University were allegedly involved in Fake Degree Scam. As per an anonymous letter to UGC, around 4,65,000 fake degrees were allotted by the Shimla based APG University and Manav Bharti University, Kumarhatti in Solan district.  

A FIR was registered against Manav Bharti University, Solan, over the Fake Degrees Scam, which is under investigation and even its Chairman Rajkumar Rana has been arrested.

Indus International University is also under investigation for forgery, while Arni University is in the dock over staff salaries.