Shillong, June 13: Civil society groups in Meghalaya today urged governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary to initiate steps against private universities operating in the state in line with the actions he had taken against the CMJ University.

“We would like to congratulate you on your pro-active role in uncovering fraudulent and corrupt practices followed by the CMJ University. But this act of yours will be incomplete because every other private university in Meghalaya is either involved in similar practices or blatantly flouting norms established by the UGC,” the civil society groups said in a complaint lodged with Mooshahary.

The groups comprise the Civil Society Women’s Organisation, Thma U Rangli (TUR), Hynniewtrep National Youth Front, Federation of Khasi-Jaintia and the Garo People among others.

While putting forth complaints against the private universities, the groups expressed hope that the governor would take “quick and decisive action” against them, including recommending dissolution of these universities.

The complaints are based on information gathered through RTI Act, 2005, and information available in public domain, Angela Rangad, a member of TUR, said.

The private universities against whom the groups have complained include Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU), William Carey University, Mahatma Gandhi University, University of Technology and Management, University of Science, Technology and Management and Techno Global University.

On the MLCU, the groups alleged that it has been running off-campus centres/practice schools/study centres/affiliated colleges.

They alleged that the university has off-campus centres both within and outside the state of Meghalaya in far-flung states like Kerala, Karnataka and Delhi contrary to the UGC regulations.

They alleged that PhD degrees granted by the MLCU have supervisors who are not faculty members of the university.

On the William Carey University, the groups alleged that the eight-year-old university still conducts courses affiliated to other universities and functions from a small rented premise in Shillong.

As far as the Mahatma Gandhi University is concerned, it has been alleged that the university has affiliated franchised centres outside Meghalaya for courses both in off-campus and distance education mode for which they do not even have statutory permissions.

In relation to the University of Technology and Management, the groups have levelled an allegation that the university has no full-time vice-chancellor as the vice-chancellor of the university is the chancellor of the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Uttarakhand.

The university has been accused of not having a proper examination system and a reservation policy for students from Meghalaya.

In the case of the University of Science, Technology and Management (USTM), it has been alleged that there are two institutions running from the same campus — Regional Institute of Science and Technology (RIST) and USTM.

In so far as Techno Global University is concerned, the groups alleged that the university has no statutory permission to start technical courses and has been functioning without a campus.

“These are just some of the irregularities which the private universities in Meghalaya are indulging in. Generally all of them have under-qualified faculty, dubious examination systems and a non-rigorous academic atmosphere rendering these universities into just degree factories and teaching shops,” Rangad said.