Dr. TMA Pai was the founder of Manipal Education and Medical Group. His son, Dr. Ramdas M Pai then took over the reins and made it into a purely commercial venture. They were the one who introduced Capitation Fee System in India. In 1993, Congress Govt. granted the status of deemed University to The Manipal Education Group of Intuitions which became the first Commercial Institution to be granted deemed University status. It opened up for Commercial Players to become deemed Universities.
Dr. Ramdas Pai’s is Chairman of Manipal Education and Medical Group and also the Pro Chancellor of the Sikkim-Manipal University of Health, Medical & Technological Sciences, Gangtok, Sikkim, a Private University.
The Manipal University has off shore Campuses in Pokhara, Nepal, in Melaka, Malaysia and in Dubai, UAE which do not have approval from the University Grants Commission, Medical Council of India and The Government of India.
Mr. Kapil Sibal, the Union HRD Minister, is considered very close to the Manipal Group and has also represented the Manipal Group of in many litigations before the High Court of Karnataka and The Supreme Court of India, advocating privatization of Higher Education.
Mr. Kapil Sibal, the Union HRD Minister who speaks a lots against the Deemed Universities, on 15th June 2009 did not miss the opportunity to take time off, visit and inaugurate the Sports Complex of Maleka Manipal Medical College in Malaysia, a Constituent of Manipal Academy of Higher Education Deemed University. It is to be noted that neither the Government of India, nor the UGC has approved the off shore campus of Manipal University in Malaysia, The Medical Council of India has also withdrawn it’s recognition from the college due to it’s irregularities but the Hon'ble HRD Minister is least bothered of the statutory bodies that in fact work under his command.
On May 25, 2010, the foundation stone of Manipal University was laid in Dubai. Kapil Sibal especially flew to Dubai and laid the foundation stone of the campus. In his address Minister Mr. Kapil Sibal said, 'Manipal University is an institution of excellence. From the Himalayas to the Caribbean, from Malaysia to Dubai, Manipal has established a global brand in education. Laying the foundation for this new campus in Dubai is not only a proud moment for Manipal University; it is a proud moment for India also.'
The very visits on public money for inaugurating the centres-off campus of past clients is against the propriety and is not expected from a Minister. The corruption is not only in form of give and take of money, it is also in form of exercising undue influence, which the minister has done time and again. The Minister should be careful enough to know whether the centres he is inaugurating are in violation of Law and regulations? His actions are unbecoming of an Education Minister.
The name of Manipal Academy of Higher Education Deemed University, Manipal has been cleared by the Review Committee formed by the Ministry of HRD to review the Functioning of the Deemed University which is headed by Prof. P.N. Tandon Committee in spite of Negative Report of the University Grants Commission that conducted a detail inspection of the Manipal University. The name of Manipal University was cleared on the direction of Kapil Sibal.
Prof. P.N. Tandon was a Member of Adhoc Committee appointed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court look in to the issue of recognition of medical college.
Prof. P.N. Tandon was a Member of Adhoc Committee appointed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court look in to the issue of recognition of medical college.
The Executive Committee of the Medical Council of India held it’s meeting on 24th August, 2007 at 11.00 a.m. in the Council Office at Sector 8, Pocket 14, Dwarka, New Delhi-110 077 where the members of the Adhoc Committee appointed as per the Hon’ble Supreme Court including Prof. P.N Tandon were also present.
At S.No 39 and 40 the case of Medical Colleges Under the Manipal University were considered. The Expert members of the Adhoc Committee appointed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court and of the Executive Committee of the Medical Council of India Made the following recommendations regarding the Medical Colleges :
“In view of above and as the deficiencies of teaching faculty, teaching beds, distribution of units, availability of paramedical staff and other infrastructure are still persisting, the members of the Adhoc Committee appointed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court and of the Executive Committee of the Council decided to reiterate its earlier decisions taken at its meeting held on 22.5.2002 and as approved by the General Body of the Council presided over by the Administrator at its meeting held on 27.8.2002 and by the Executive Committee on 02.12.2006 wherein the members of the Adhoc Committee appointed by the Hon’ble Supreme court were also present to recommend to the Central Government to initiate action u/s 19 of the Indian Medical Council Act,1956 for withdrawal of recognition of MBBS degree granted by Manipal Academy of Higher Education in respect of students being trained at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal and further decided to request the Central Government to recall the permission given by the Central Govt. vide letter dated 15.06.2007 to admit the students for MBBS course during the current academic year 2007-2008 and to direct the institute not to make any further admissions in the MBBS course for the academic year 2007-08. It was further decided to request the Central Government to direct the institute not to teach and train the students of Malekka Manipal Medical College, Malaysia unless evidence of creating additional facilities for training such students is submitted to the Central Government and prior permission of the Central Government is obtained for such an arrangement. “
When Prof. P.N. Tandon was a part of both the committees and was aware of the irregularities in the Manipal University, why was a go ahead given to the Manipal University, by the review Committee. In fact he acted like a point man for the Ministry, and the committee has recommended some Deemed University as excellent even though they had not commenced any operation.
The very Appointment of Mr. Tandon, to the committee was against the propriety, just and fairness, as he was also the president of one of the Deemed University that was under scrutiny. In fact he received the UGC committee when they visited their deemed University.
From the above it is clear that a Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Deemed University is violating all the norms of the statutory bodies but it is being granted favors by the HRD Minister, Kapil Sibal. It is not one of the case, many other universities are being awarded preferential treatment.
The Central Bureau of Investigation and/or a Committee of the Parliament should be asked to investigate the matter so that action against the guilty can be taken. Had the Jan Lokpal Bill come into force, the action would have been taken against the minister and officials of MHRD, UGC but the Government seems reluctant to Act as it would him them harder.
From the above it is clear that a Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Deemed University is violating all the norms of the statutory bodies but it is being granted favours by the HRD Minister, Kapil Sibal.
From the above it is clear that a Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Deemed University is violating all the norms of the statutory bodies but it is being granted favours by the HRD Minister, Kapil Sibal.
The Central Bureau of Investigation and/or a Committee of the Parliament should be asked to investigate the matter so that action against the guilty can be taken.
No comments:
Post a Comment