Supreme Court scrutiny of private university approvals and affidavit compliance

The Hindu
The Hindu
3h ago
The Supreme Court said its enquiry into the establishment and benefits of private universities is not a “witch-hunt” or “headmaster” exercise, and questioned the Centre and States for not complying with orders on personally affirmed affidavits.
Supreme Court scrutiny of private university approvals and affidavit compliance
A What happened
The Supreme Court said it would not embark on a “witch-hunt” or admonish the Union and States like a “headmaster” if they are completely honest about the circumstances of setting up private universities and benefits given to them. A Bench headed by Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah pulled up the Centre for not filing an affidavit affirmed by the Union Cabinet Secretary despite a categorical order in November 2025. The Bench issued notices to State Chief Secretaries over affidavits not personally affirmed, missing affidavits, lack of legal representation, and incomplete information, and allowed additional affidavits in some cases. The case was scheduled for hearing on January 28.
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Key insights

  • 1

    Court conditioned restraint on truthful disclosure: Justice Amanullah said the court would not act like a “headmaster” or go on a “witch-hunt” if the Union and States win the court’s trust by being honest and truthful and openly disclosing issues they face.

  • 2

    Personal accountability for affidavit disclosures: The November 2025 order required affidavits to be personally affirmed by the Union Cabinet Secretary and State Chief Secretaries, barred delegation, and placed responsibility for every disclosure and its correctness on the deponents.

Takeaways

The Supreme Court kept the enquiry on private universities active, demanded personally affirmed disclosures from the Centre and States, and set the next hearing for January 28.

Topics

Work & Education Education World & Politics Policy & Regulation Law & Public Safety Courts

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