Private universities under Supreme Court review; UGC, Centre directed to furnish full details 'personally'

The Supreme Court has decided to examine the creation, establishment, and setting-up of all private universities and ordered the Centre, states, Union Territories (UTs), and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to furnish details on how such institutions came into existence and the benefits extended to them.

The bench of Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice NV Anjaria, which was hearing the writ petition filed by a student seeking a direction for Amity University to accept her official request to change her name, has now been converted into a public interest litigation and ordered the disclosure of all information regarding how private universities are being regulated and are functioning in the country.

SC asks who is running private universities

The top court has asked the government to disclose the persons who are actually running, managing, or in control of these private educational institutions – whether through an apex body, managing committee, or board of governors – by whatever name the top decision-making body is known.

It also ordered that the affidavits must specify the composition of such bodies and the selection process followed to appoint them, and the full details of all persons connected with the establishment or management of such universities be placed on record.

Additionally, it has asked the University Grants Commission (UGC) to explain its role in relation to private universities, on oath, and how it monitors the compliance of such institutions.

In September 2025, the UGC identified 54 state private universities that had not submitted details under Section 13 of the UGC Act, 1956, or failed to upload mandatory public self-disclosure documents on their websites, despite multiple online meetings and reminders sent by the statutory body. Amity University is among the universities that have not submitted relevant documents.

Section 13 of the UGC Act, gives the statutory body the power to inspect universities to assess their financial requirements and the standard of teaching, research, and exams. The UGC then recommends corrective measures to maintain the standards laid down for higher educational institutions (HEIs).

Supreme Court demands details of private universities

The Supreme Court has asked the Centre and states to explain the admission policies and recruitment processes adopted by private universities. It also sought details of the regulatory checks that the governments have in place as well as relaxations granted to them.

The bench said it also wants to know whether private universities that claim to operate on a “no profit, no loss” basis are in reality doing so in practice, and how the government ensures there is no diversion of funds towards anything unconnected with the educational institution, “including salaries and expenses towards founders and family members and assets acquired by them”.

They are also required to disclose the grievance redressal mechanism available for students, faculty, and staff, and whether universities are paying the minimum salaries mandated by law.

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Top govt officials to submit details

The bench has directed the Cabinet Secretary, the head of the central government’s civil services and is the senior-most bureaucrat in India, and chief secretaries, the heads of specific state’s civil service — to obtain and collate the information. They, along with the UGC chairman, have been added as respondents, and have been directed to file affidavits “personally” and not form delegations.

“If there is any attempt to withhold/suppress/misrepresent/misstate facts in the affidavits called for, this Court will be compelled to adopt a strict view,” the apex court warned.

The matter has been listed for January 8, 2026 at 3 pm, and the personal appearance of the president of the Ritnand Balved Education Foundation and the vice-chancellor of Amity University has been dispensed with for the present.