A Weak Attempt to Curb Unfair Practices in Higher Education

Although the Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Technical Educational Institutions, Medical Educational Institutions and Universities Bill 2010, which was introduced in Parliament recently, acknowledges the widespread prevalence of malpractices in our institutions of higher education, it is inadequate for tackling the host of corrupt and unfair practices. The unfair practices adopted by many institutions, particularly private institutions of higher education in India, are widely known and they include a large variety, starting from the period of founding of an institution and getting recognition from the government to the conduct of examinations and award of degrees.

In between, a multitude of unfair m ethods are practised in areas such as a dmissions, levy of fees, recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff, payment of salaries, assessment and accreditation of courses of study and various other a spects, all of which come broadly under the label of corruption. Several private universities and colleges are established without proper permission from the a ppropriate bodies, students are admitted in these universities and degree and d iploma programmes are offered which are not recognised by the government and accordingly fake certificates are issued.