SC pulls up Centre for not rendering logistical assistance to Court-appointed Committee conducting Audit of Pvt. Universities, issues contempt to Edu. Secretary

On Monday, the Supreme Court pulled up the Centre for not rendering the required logistical assistance to a court-appointed committee in a matter concerning the audit of private universities and issued notice of contempt to the Union Education Secretary, Vineet Joshi, observing that such conduct is an “affront” to the highest court.

SC Bench comprising of Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice NV Anjaria stated that, “Everybody is trying to delay because stakes in this matter are high”.

Apex Court Bench came down heavily upon the inaction of the Centre to comply with a February order to provide a decent office space, support staff and other logistics to help a committee headed by RM Sharma, a former Indian Legal Service officer to examine affidavits filed by states, Union Territories and departments of central government in a matter where the court ordered an audit of functioning and regulation of standards in private universities.

Bench said, “In the tentative view of the court, such conduct by Secretary, Education in failing to ensure adequate facilities and infrastructure to officers appointed by us is a direct affront to this court and amounts to contempt.”

The matter has now been kept for April 27.

The order of the Supreme Court came in a petition filed by a student of Amity University who was harassed for seeking change of her name in the college records.

Apex Court expanded the scope of the petition and issued pan-India directions by asking states/UTs to collect information about who runs these universities, what wages are paid to the staff, and the composition and mode of selection to such bodies which run the institutions.