The task force, headed by noted educationist and former vice-chancellor of Punjabi University at Patiala, Amrik Singh, was convened to suggest ways to check the growth of fake universities. But it will now focus on the restructuring of UGC and re-direct it towards its original goal: The maintenance of academic standards.

Constituted in July, the task force has already prepared a report which suggests an ordinance to check the growth of fake universities (conservative estimates put the number in India at 28) as well as of foreign universities which have entered into a partnership with Indian institutions.

The committee has said that an ordinance would be essential given the urgency of the situation and the fact that the University Grants Commission (Amendment) Bill, 1995, was withdrawn by the Government. Giventhat the penalty under the UGC Act, 1956, for setting up a fraud university is only a paltry Rs 1,000 (which the committee justifiably calls a joke), the task force has suggested upping the punishment to a one-to-three year prison term. There will also be a simultaneous fine which could extend from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

The committee has also suggested that the ordinance amend the UGC Act to ensure that every university will publish a list of the degrees, diplomas and certificates approved by it before the beginning of every academic year.

The task force has recommended that whenever a new university is established or recognised as a deemed-to-be university, UGC will issue it a code number. The task force has also recommended cooperation with the Press Council of India to check advertisements by universities which do not abide by UGC standards.

The committee also comprised UGC Secretary G D Sharma and two joint secretaries to the Government of India. If an ordinance is passed, it will bring to aconclusion a long process of trying to stem the spread of self-styled universities. The Committee on Petitions of the Eighth Lok Sabha had debated this while considering the recognition of Maithili University in 1989. That committee recommended the streamlining of the UGC Act and an enhancement of the supposedly deterrent punishment for taking gullible students for a ride.