Deemed to be universities apply for change of names

BENGALURU: Some deemed universities have approached the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the ministry of human resource development (MHRD) seeking change of name. The UGC had set November 30 deadline for deemed universities to drop the word ‘university’ from their names.

Christ University has proposed to change its name to ‘Christ (Deemed to be University)’. “We have sent the letter to the commission citing the name change. We will implement it soon,” an official from the vice-chancellor’s office said.

NITTE University has also made a similar change. The institution has applied for the name ‘NITTE (Deemed to be University)’. However, Jain University, which also has sent application, refused to disclose the proposed new name.

The Supreme Court had on November 2 stated that many institutions which are conferred with the status of deemed-to-be universities are using the word ‘university’ which is against the spirit of section 23 of the UGC Act. UGC was asked to take appropriate steps to stop the practice.

The court also ordered the commission to implement section 23 under the Act and asked 123 institutions across the country to make changes. In Karnataka, six out of 14 deemed-to-be universities were given the order. These institutions were Christ University, Bengaluru; BLDE University, Bijapur; Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeswara University, Mysuru; Jain University, Bengaluru; NITTE University, Mangaluru and

Yenepoya University

, Mangaluru.

“We have sent a proposal with a list of names that can be considered for the institution. It is up to the commission and the ministry to decide a suitable name,” Arun Bhagwath, deputy director of Yenepoya University, told TOI.