How BU granted affiliation to govt college running out of three rooms in girls school

Bhopal: City-based Barkatullah university, a state university, granted affiliation to Government College, Badi, in Raisen district, despite the college failing to meet UGC Regulations, 2009 norms, reveals CAG in its latest report. The report's data covers findings up to 2023.
The audit found that the college, 45 km from Bhopal, operated in 420 square feet across three rooms inside a Government Girls School, but still admitted 60 students across subjects. According to the audit, the college lacked the mandated land, infrastructure and facilities required under the norms. BU gives affiliation to colleges in eight districts including Raisen. Paragraph 3.1 of the UGC Regulations demands undisputed ownership of five acres for rural colleges, plus ample buildings for lectures, seminars, labs, and libraries. Essential amenities like water, electricity, ventilation, toilets, sewers, a 1,000-book library, multipurpose hall, and separate boys' and girls' common rooms are non-negotiable before any nod. Yet, the university overlooked these, granting approval despite glaring deficiencies. No ownership papers, no sprawling campus—just a cramped corner of a girls' school, compromising student safety and learning quality. What did the university's Sept 2024 riposte? It claimed full compliance with Higher Education Department (HED) orders and a post-inspection committee nod. But auditors dismissed this as untenable. "Affiliation was granted without verifying UGC norms," the report slams, warning it "affected the quality of educational learning" for vulnerable rural students.When contacted, assistant registrar (academic), Barkatullah University, Punit Shukla said, "The college was launched in a hurry after state govt announces to open the campus. We will look into the matter." This isn't isolated—such shortcuts erode academic standards in Madhya Pradesh's hinterlands. Audit Exposes 14-Year Pattern of Violations in University AffiliationsAn audit revealed that a prominent university granted and renewed permanent affiliation to at least four colleges over the past 14 years in violation of its own Statute 27, ignoring mandatory land and accreditation norms.Jawahar Lal Nehru College in Bhopal topped the list of irregularities. Despite operating from a rented building on a 2,400 sq ft plot with a 9,600 sq ft built-up area and lacking space for sports, the university awarded it permanent affiliation in 2009-10. The college held no accreditation from NAAC or any state- or central govt-recognised agency, yet the university renewed the status annually without rectification.The audit said three other colleges also received permanent affiliations without the required NAAC or equivalent accreditation, breaching rules that demanded at least two acres of land in urban areas along with statutory accreditation.The audit flagged the university's persistent oversight and raised questions on governance and compliance in higher education. BU officials said that college has been shifted to new premises. "College is now following all norms after shifting to a new campus," said BU's assistant registrar, Punit Shukla.