New Delhi : Privately-run deemed universities facing de-recognition on March 8 challenged in the Supreme Court the central government's authority to strip them of their status.

Appearing for various deemed universities before a bench of Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice A.K. Patnaik, senior counsel K.K. Venugopal contended that the recognition accorded to them under a law made by the Parliament cannot be taken back by an executive order. Venugopal said that the issues pertaining to recognition of an educational institution of excellence falls under the ambit of the University Grant Commission (UGC) Act.

"The government has no jurisdiction to set up task force to examine institution and the academic and physical infrastructure within it," said Venugopal, adding, "it's against the mandate of the UGC Act." "The whole procedure adopted by the government is without jurisdiction and illegal," he said. Venugopal also pointed out to the apex court that the UGC had originally given the recognition to various institutions as 'deemed university' for five years and it was to review their performance after that.

But the government has decided to de-recognize these institutions much before the stipulated period, said Venugopal. "One particular university was derecognized within 28 days." Attorney General Goolam E. Vahanvati told the court that the government will not de-recognize them without giving a hearing on the panel's notice, seeking the stripping of their tag for want of proper educational environment and infrastructure.