Chennai:
At least 14 universities in Tamil Nadu have received some relief with the Supreme Court ruling that they should not be derecognised just yet - something the Government recommended last week.
But even as the universities welcome the chance to present their side of the story in court, the Tamil Nadu government wants all deemed universities to disappear from the state. In fact, that's what the Tamil Nadu Education Minister has requested in a letter to Union Minister Kapil Sibal.
"We are only silent spectators in this. That's why we have written to the central government," says Dr Ponmudi.
Tamil Nadu has more deemed universities than any other state. Last week, the union government recommended that 44 of these universities, across India, be derecognised for functioning like "family fiefdoms" and for unsatisfactory academic standards.
The state government is concerned over the manner in which these universities are run, often violating reservation norms, admitting students beyond the sanctioned strength, and charging exorbitant fees.
"They've completely lost the philanthropic flavour they claim and have become business houses," says Dr A Kalanidhi, Former Advisor to All India council of Technical Education (AICTE).
The state's universities claim that they are following the government's guidelines. "There's a disproportionate amount of investment that has gone into this...and there's not a single rupee from the government. And the UGC has allowed us to increase the student intake as long as we comply with the faculty-student ratio of 1:15," argues Dr M K Padmanabhan, Vice-Chancellor of the Dr M G R University
For now, though, both critics and professors are quick to reassure students that their futures are not at stake. Even if their universities lose their "deemed" status, students will get degrees affiliated to state universities.