Jurisdiction of HPU exercisable Statewide for course run through distance mode under ICDEOL: Guv

Jurisdiction of HPU exercisable Statewide for course run through distance mode under ICDEOL: Guv

Himachal Pradesh Governor by virtue of being chancellor of HP University approved a notification of the State Education department to bring back the jurisdiction of ICDEOL (International Centre for Distance Education & Open Learning) courses in the entire state and Regional Centre of Dharmshala to HPU Shimla.

A notification issued by the Secretary Education Abhishek Jain on January 12, 2022 stated that in

continuation to this department notification of even number dated 21.05.2022, the Governor, Himachal Pradesh in exercise of the powers conferred by Sub Section (1) of Section 7 of the Himachal Pradesh University Act, 1970 (State Act No. 17 of 1970  ), is pleased to order that henceforth the jurisdiction of Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla shall be exercisable in the entire State of Himachal Pradesh for courses offered / run through distance mode under ICDEOL H.P.  University, Shimla.

The Governor is further pleased to order that the Regional Center of Himachal Pradesh University at Dharamshala shall also comprise the part of territorial jurisdiction of Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla in public interest.

It is worthwhile to mention that previous BJP government established a new Sardar Patel University in Mandi and jurisdiction of ICDEOL courses of the many regional, Post Graduate and undergraduate courses and colleges of Kangra, Mandi, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba district was transferred to SPU Mandi.

During the tenure of last government few colleges of Mandi district also came under Cluster University Mandi but University Grant Commission didn’t allow the cluster University to function as Independent Educational entity of HPU.

It was afterthought of former Jai Ram Thakur Government to establish a full-fledged University at Mandi which came in existence two years ago. But since SPU Mandi could not enrol more students in ICDEOL and PG centre now Sukhu government has decided to bring back the control to HPU Shimla.

It was also interesting to mention here that Sukhu government decided to cut down unproductive expenditure on such Institutions by winding them up and denotifying many colleges as BJP government opened SPU and 24 colleges mostly in the election year.

It is worthwhile to mention that 75 percent colleges in the state including 24 colleges opened by last government were operating without having a Principal.

With this notification future of SPU Mandi may hang fire as University reportedly could not become fully functional due to insufficient faculty and students beside creation of infrastructure is herculean task given the state resources restrain. Quality of higher education in the Universities and Colleges are biggest causilty in the last few years as UGC ranking of these Educational Institutions fell drastically down the ladders.

Even the appointment and posting being done in HPU and SPU are under scanner as UGC guidelines were flouted for the appointment of faculty members to adjust kith and kin of politicians vehementaly opposed by the students unions.