PASIGHAT, Aug 24: The Gauhati High Court on Thursday stayed the report of a fact-finding committee set by the Deputy Commissioner, Pasighat against the Apex Professional University. The Court has termed the constitution of such a committee by the DC illegal.

It may be noted that the Apex Professional University, Pasighat has been in the limelight due to the question of its genuineness like UGC recognition, poor infrastructure, zero endowment funds, off-campus courses, degree selling and other allegations leveled by Adi Students’ Union.

 Due to complaints lodged by Adi Students’ Union (AdiSU), the East Siang district administration here had constituted an 11-member fact-finding committee on July 23 and the committee submitted its report on August 8.  The Fact Finding Committee headed by Addl. Dy. Commissioner (HQ) here had made several observations like APU may be asked to come out clean on the accusations made by AdiSU and freshly apply for inspection by UGC, etc..

However, due to constant pressure from AdiSU to close down the university until the matter is not solved, the APU approached the High Court which in its ruling on Thursday has stayed the report of Fact-Finding Committee while terming the DC’s constitution of the committee as illegal. 

The HC observed that only on a complaint received in writing from the UGC or any statutory body that the university is not functioning as per provision of the Act, then only show cause notice can be served on university concerned by giving them three months time to explain as to why such university shall not be derecognized. 

“The Act is specific on the subject that only on receipt of such complaint from the UGC, the government can take action. The procedure adopted by the DC, Pasighat on the basis of the complaint of a student union is against the statutory provision and cannot be held to be proper,” the court observed. At the same time, the Court has directed the district administration to provide security to the university if applied by APU in the matter of its functioning.