Shimla, Jan 13 (FN Bureau) Himachal Pradesh Governor by virtue of chancellor of HP University approved a notification of state Education Department to bring back the jurisdiction of ICDEOL(International Centre for Distance Education & Open Learning) courses in the entire state and Regional Centre of HPU Dharmshala to HPU Shimla. A notification issued by the Secretary Education Abhishek Jain on January 12, 2022 stated that in continuation to this Department notification of even number dated 21.05.2022, the Governor, Himachal Pradesh in exercise of the powers conferred by Sub Section (1) of Section 7 of the Himachal Pradesh University Act, 1970 (State Act No. 17 of 1970 ) , is pleased to order that henceforth the jurisdiction of Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla will be exercisable in the entire State of Himachal Pradesh for courses offered / run through distance mode under ICDEOL H.P. University, Shimla. The Governor is further pleased to order that the Regional Center of Himachal Pradesh University at Dharamshala will also comprise the part of territorial jurisdiction of Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla in public interest.
It is worthwhile to mention that previous BJP government established a new Sardar Patel University Mandi in the state and jurisdiction of ICDEOL courses of the many regional, Post Graduate and undergraduate courses and colleges of Kangra, Mandi, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba district was handed transferred to SPU Mandi. During the tenure of last government few colleges of Mandi district also came under Cluster University Mandi but University Grant Commission didn’t allow the cluster University to functions as Independent Educational entity of HPU. It was afterthought of former Jai Ram Thakur Government to establish a full-fledged University at Mandi which came to existence two years ago. But since SPU Mandi could not enrolled the more students in ICDEOL and PG centre now Sukhu government decided to bring back the control of HPU Shimla.
It was also interesting to mention here that Sukhu government decided to cut down unproductive expenditure on such Institutions by winding up them and denotification also made in many colleges as BJP last government opened SPU and 24 colleges mostly in election year. Notably, 75 percent colleges in the state including 24 colleges opened by last government were operating without having principal. With this notification future of SPU Mandi may hangs in fire as University reportedly could not fully functional due to insufficient faculty and students beside creation of infrastructure is herculean tasks given the state resources restrain. Quality of higher education in the Universities and Colleges are biggest causalty in last five years as UGC ranking of these Educational Institutions fall drastically down the ladders. The appointment and posting being done in HPU and SPU are under scanner as UGC guidelines were flouted for the appointment of faculty members to adjust kin and kith of politicians vehementaly opposed by the students unions.