Bhubaneswar, June 25: The state higher education department has blacklisted 11 private junior colleges, including seven in Bhubaneswar. These institutes cannot admit students for the coming academic session.

The colleges have been penalised for failing to fulfil prescribed norms set by the state government within three years of establishment.

Higher education secretary Chandrashekhar Kumar said this decision was taken by the higher power committee (HPC), a sub-committee constituted by the department, after reviewing the facilities provided by the 11 colleges.

“These colleges have not fulfilled the requisite conditions in terms of land, laboratories, overall infrastructure and other logistics within three years of their establishment. So, we have withdrawn their recognition. However, if they give us an affidavit stating that they would achieve the norms within a stipulated time frame, we would reconsider their case,” said Kumar.

Department sources said six of the 11 debarred colleges have filed an affidavit today pleading for more time to meet the requirements.

“After receiving the affidavits, the HPC would take a view in favour of students. The colleges might be allowed to function for this academic session. But if they fail to comply, then they would again be restricted from admitting students,” said a senior official of the department.

Talking about the seven colleges in the capital, which have been debarred, additional secretary of the department, Maguni Charan Lenka said: “In Bhubaneswar, the minimum land requirement for setting up a college is two acres. Many of them were found to be running from rented buildings with cramped classroom spaces.”

Officials at Irodov College of Science here said they have been blacklisted because the college land is in the name of a private trust and is yet to be transferred to them. Principal, Manoj Pandit said: “As per government instructions, we had to submit an affidavit along with our land records before April 30, but unfortunately we were not able to do it for which we have been debarred”. However, Pandit said he has submitted a fresh affidavit and the matter would be sorted by Sunday afternoon.

This announcement has left parents like Sabita Mohapatra anxious about the fate of their children. “These private colleges are here only to make money and are playing with our children’s future. In case they get the go-ahead for admitting students this year, there is no assurance that they won’t be blacklisted again,” she said.

Debarred colleges

Bhubaneswar College of Computer Science and Technology, Bhubaneswar

Irodov College of Science, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar

New Star Science College, Kedargouri, Bhubaneswar

The New Age +2 Science College, Bhubaneswar

Triveni Academy Science College, Ganganagar, Bhubaneswar

Jaya Krushna College, Tamando, Bhubaneswar

Kalinga College of Commerce, Samantarapur, Bhubaneswar

Vidyarthi Residential (Junior) College, Kunjakanta, Dhenkanal

Sri Baladev Jew Mahila (Junior) Mahavidyalaya, Buguda

Supriya (Junior) College, Bhaliagada, Rangeilunda

Regional (Junior) College of Science and Technology, Nimapada