Srinagar, Nov 11: The State Government has decided to crack whip on unauthorized private educational institutions running in Jammu and Kashmir.
 The Higher Education Department has ordered for constitution of District Level Committees (DLCs) for identification of the unauthorized private college and other institutions across JK.
 "These committees will provide information about unauthorized colleges falling within their territorial jurisdiction to Director, Colleges for necessary action," a senior official in the department said.
 He said earlier the deadline for these committees to submit the report was October 15 last month. However, he said the deadline has been extended.
 The official said government would take a final call on the fate of such colleges once the entire report from all the districts is received by it.
 “We are planning to continue this exercise in future too,” the official said.
 Commissioner Secretary Higher Education, Gazanfer Hussain said there were already set rules for establishing and running the colleges.
 “If any institute is found functioning in violation of the guidelines, we will definitely take action against it,” he said.
 The private colleges have expanded during past 20 years and at least 249 such colleges are functional in Jammu and Kashmir.
 Of them, 172 private colleges including degree colleges and other institutes offering professional and academic education and PG courses in Jammu division.
 The number of such colleges is 77 in Kashmir.
 In comparison the total number of government colleges in Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh is, 45, 46 and four respectively, according to official website of Higher Education department.
 The survey by the state education department is going on at a time when Union Human Resource Development Ministry has put its weight behind expansion of the sector in the state.
 At a function held at in south Kashmir’s Pulwama town last month, the former HRD Minister, Kapil Sibal said private education was need of the hour even in JK and if anyone was “putting obstacles” in it, he would fight it not only in the capacity of being a minister but also as an individual.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 11 Nov 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 11 Nov 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 IST