FATEHGARH SAHIB, Punjab—In relation to the recent news about the Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University failing to be recognized by the University Grant Commission, the SGPC President has alleged that the Sikh organization is working to fill the gap. The Fatehgarh Sahib based university is run and funded by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and has not yet succeeded in getting recognition from the University Grant Commission (UGC). Failure in meeting the standards set by UGC can put approval from the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in danger.
The university website claims it is recognized by UGC, but vice chancellor Dr. Gurmohan Singh Walia accepted that the status was still to be earned. He said that the tussle between the UGC and the AICTE was the hurdle, adding that admission process would be affected by it because to explain the technical nuances of approval to people would be difficult. SGPC President Avtar Makkar said he was aware of the matter. He has alleged that the SGPC is currently working to meet the standards.
Allegedly, the reason behind the disapproval from UGC is the situation wherein the required four members of the AICTE had not inspected university. “The tussle between both the bodies is going on and price for that is being paid by us,” said the VC. Rules require the university to coordinate with the AICTE to ensure that its members go with the UGC team for inspection.
The AICTE had to nominate the four members and the university had to invite them, whereas the latter contacted only one member and showed the remaining three as absent. When the UGC authorities were informed about this formally, the three absent members objected, saying that the university had kept them out of the loop.
Mr. Walia said the university had only acted as per written directions from the UGC in inviting six inspectors, including a member each from the AICTE and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
“The university remains competent to award degrees and has written to the UGC for re-inspection. We’re in this situation because of the AICTE report,” he said.
