New Delhi, Oct. 19: The culture of indecision in governance is apparent with the Union human resource development (HRD) ministry issuing a notification last month to de-notify a prestigious Bihar-based yoga deemed university.

The notification for withdrawal of the deemed university status of Bihar Yoga Bharati (BYB), Munger, was issued over seven years after the institution wanted to shed the deemed university status on the ground that it was unable to meet the compliance obligations of University Grants Commission (UGC).

The BYB, which was originally started as Bihar School of Yoga in 1963 by Swami Satyananda Saraswati, was declared a deemed university in 2000 by the ministry on the advice of UGC. Under the UGC Act, the ministry has the power to confer or withdraw deemed university tag to any institution on advice of UGC.

The institution wrote to UGC in June 2008 for withdrawal of the deemed university status. As per the UGC norms, a deemed university is supposed to maintain prescribed infrastructure and teachers. The deemed universities are inspected regularly to ascertain whether they conform to the norms.

The yoga institute said it was unable to meet UGC's requirements. The UGC, in its meeting on September 9, 2008, considered the BYB's request and recommended to the HRD ministry to withdraw the deemed tag.

The ministry under UPA-I and UPA-II did not take any decision. The NDA government acted on it only after the UGC sent a reminder in June this year. HRD minister Smriti Irani approved the de-notification on August 24, a spokesperson of the ministry said.

The withdrawal of the deemed status would not make any difference to the functioning of the institution since it does not offer any degree course.

The BYB offers courses like two-month orientation in yogic science and lifestyle, four-month certificate course on yogic studies and one-year diploma in yogic studies. Such programmes can be offered by any institution without being a university.

The UGC is to be equally blamed for the delay. UGC sources said that it did not pursue the matter with the ministry until the BYB wrote to it earlier this year in reply to UGC directive to all deemed universities that they should follow the revised norms meant for such institutions.

The BYB wrote back it had already sent its request for shedding deemed tag and that has been approved by UGC.

When the HRD ministry set up an expert panel to review of deemed universities in 2009, the BYB had not participated in it.

No comments could be obtained from the BYB despite repeated attempts, which include making telephone calls and sending letter by fax.