Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Padur is Declared as Deemed to be University

Central Government recieved an application from Rajah Muthiah Chettiar Charitable & Educational Trust, Chennai, Tamil Nadu seeking status of ‘deemed-to-be-university’ to Chettinad University, Padur, Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu, as a ‘De Novo’ Institution, under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.

UGC has examined the said applications and vide its communication bearing F.No.40-1/2007(CPP-I) dated 01.01.2008 has recommended for conferment of status of ‘Deemed-to-be-University’ to Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Padur, Kancheepuram District for a period three years subject to review at the end of each year. Later, the UGC vide its communication F.No.40-1/2007(CPP-I) dated 22.02.2008 has partially modified its recommendations to the effect that the status recommended be awarded under De Novo category;

The UGC vide its letter F.No.40-1/2007(CPP-I) dated 09.06.2008 has inter alia clarified that the proposed ‘Deemed-to-be-University’ Institution will consist of (i) Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute and (ii) Chettinad College of Nursing;

Therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, the Central Government, on the advice of the UGC, has declared that “Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE)“, Padur, Kelambakkam, Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu, comprising (i) Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Padur, Kelambakkam and (ii) Chettinad College of Nursing, Padur, Kelambakkam, shall be a “Deemed-to-be-University”, under ‘De Novo’ category, for the purposes of the aforesaid Act, provisionally for a period of five years with effect from the date the CARE Trust complies and fulfils with the below-mentioned conditions:

(i) All the movable and immovable assets / properties of the Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute and Chettinad College of Nursing shall be legally transferred from their parent Trust, viz., Rajah Muthiah Chettiar Charitable and Educational Trust and vested with the Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE) Trust and registered so in the interest of future of students, members of faculty, employees and for maintaining the standards of higher education; and

(ii) Both the aforementioned teaching institutions shall be disaffiliated from their affiliating university, namely, The Tamilnadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

(iii) Postgraduate courses should be commenced at both the aforesaid institutions immediately.

The status conferred on Chettinad Academy of Research and Education is also subject to a review of all the institutions concerned at the end of each year by the UGC with the help of an Expert Committee. The status conferred shall be confirmed after a period of five years only on the basis of the reviews to be conducted annually through an Expert Committee of the UGC and recommendations of the Commission thereof;

The declaration as made by the Central Govt above is also subject to fulfillment / compliance of further conditions;-

(i) The management of the Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute (CHRI) and Chettinad College of Nursing should legally vest with the Trust created for the purpose of obtaining status of ‘deemed-to-be-university’, i.e. Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE) Trust.

(ii) The Trust Deed, MoA/Rules, Regulations & Bye-laws of the CARE should reflect the names of the teaching institutions that form integral part of ‘Deemed-to-be-University’ Institution.

(iii) The declaration as made in para 5 of this notification shall not extend to cover the other teaching institutions run by the parent Society concerned and/or, if any, run by the CARE Trust. CARE shall open and run off-campus centre(s) and/or establish new departments / institution / college under its management only as per the prevailing norms and guidelines of the UGC prevailing on this subject.

(iv) It is not permissible for CARE to affiliate any teaching institution / college.

(v) The objectives of the Trust concerned / ‘deemed-to-be-university’ institution should confine to educational and related social and charitable activities. The Trust as well as the Institute concerned should not undertake or engage in any activities that are of commercial and profit making in nature.

(vi) There shall be no diversion of assets & funds of the Trust / ‘deemed-to-be-university’ institution without prior permission of the UGC.

(vii) The accounts of the institutions concerned shall be maintained in the name of CARE, which shall be open to inspection by the UGC.

(viii) The Trust concerned should submit a legal undertaking to cover the issues pertaining to earmarking of assets, non-diversion of assets without prior approval of the UGC and for providing powers/authority to the UGC to take control of assets, etc. of the ‘deemed-to-be-university’ institution concerned in the event of winding up of or dissolution of the said Institution.

(ix) The Trust concerned should continue to maintain the corpus fund as per the norms of the UGC. This fund should be irrevocable in nature and it cannot be liquidated or closed without prior consent of the UGC.

(x) CARE Trust shall continue to ensure that its MoA / Rules & Regulations are in line and in accordance with the model MoA/Rules prescribed by the UGC. It shall take appropriate steps to get its MoA/Rules, as approved by the UGC, registered with the appropriate authorities of the State.

(xi) As and when necessary, the Trust concerned shall update or revise or modify its MoA / Rules with the approval of the UGC. Further, specific changes/amendments, if any, suggested by the Government of India or UGC shall also be carried out in the MoA/Rules with the approval of the UGC.

(xii) CARE, as a deemed-to-be-university, shall offer only those academic courses that conform to the norms and standards prescribed by the relevant Statutory Bodies such as the UGC, MCI, INC, etc. The professional courses it offers should also have the approval of the respective Statutory Regulatory Councils.

(xiii) CARE, as a deemed-to-be-university, shall award degrees in respect of the approved academic courses / programmes of the Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute and Chettinad College of Nursing only to those students who are admitted to the said institutions subsequent to the date of this notification.

(xiv) As for the students who were already admitted to the Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute and Chettinad College of Nursing prior to the date of this notification, they shall continue to pursue their courses of study under enrolment and affiliation to the affiliating university concerned, viz., The Tamilnadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai, which shall conduct examinations for them and award degrees to them upon successful completion of the courses/programmes of study they are pursuing at these institutions presently.

(xv) CARE shall not award any degrees that are not specified by the UGC. It shall also ensure that the nomenclatures of the degrees, etc. to be awarded by it are specified by the UGC under Section 22 of the UGC Act, 1956.

(xvi) CARE Trust and the institutions concerned should take immediate steps to start the proposed academic programmes in the emerging areas and in innovative fields.

(xvii) CARE should take immediate steps to commence doctoral programmes at the teaching institutions concerned and strengthen and augment the research programmes/activities there.

(xviii) CARE Trust shall maintain infrastructure of the institutions concerned as per the norms and guidelines of the UGC as are applicable to ‘Deemed-to-be-Universities’. It should take immediate steps to appoint faculty at Professor level at the Chettinad College of Nursing.

(xix) CARE / the teaching institutions concerned shall start new academic courses only as per the norms prescribed by the UGC, AICTE, MCI, PCI, INC and other Statutory Councils concerned, as the case may be.

(xx) CARE shall take all the required steps to get all its academic courses/programmes rated for valid accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), etc. in terms of instructions issued by the UGC vide its circular No.F.6-1(7)/2006(CPP-I) dated the 12th March, 2007. It shall also adhere to Policy Guidelines, if any, devised and circulated by the MCI, DCI and other Statutory Councils concerned, as the case may, with respect to accreditation of medical or paramedical courses.

(xxi) CARE shall not conduct any distance education programmes without prior approval of the UGC and the Distance Education Council (DEC). The guidelines issued by both the DEC and the UGC from time to time in the matter of imparting education through distance mode shall have to be complied with by it.

(xxii) CARE shall not start and run any study centre / extension centre / off-campus centre / off-shore campus without obtaining the requisite prior approval of the UGC/ DEC / Government of India, as the case may be.

(xxiii) All the prescribed norms and procedures of the relevant Statutory Councils, such as UGC, AICTE, MCI, DCI. INC. PCI, etc. and other authorities concerned in the matter of admission of students, intake capacity of students, starting of new courses/ programmes, renewal of approval to the courses, etc. will continue to be in force, and shall be adhered to by the Trust concerned and the teaching institutions mentioned in para 5 above.

(xxiv) The Trust concerned and ‘deemed-to-be-university’ institution shall follow and abide by all the undertakings they have already submitted or are going to submit in future to the UGC in connection with and for the purpose of ‘Deemed-to-be-University’ status under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.

(xxv) Suggestions and recommendations of the UGC’s Expert Committee should be complied with by the CARE Trust so as to rectify the deficiencies and to bring about the recommended improvement at the Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute and Chettinad College of Nursing.

(xxvi) CARE Trust / the institutions concerned shall abide by all the norms and guidelines as laid down by the UGC, AICTE and other Statutory Councils concerned from time to time, as are applicable to institutions notified as ‘Deemed-to-be-Universities’.

(xxvii) CARE shall not create an impression in the mind of the general public that it has been ‘established’ under a Central Act. In order to ensure this, the ‘Deemed-to-be-University’ Institution, in all its advertisements, public notices, communications, etc., shall distinctly mention under its nomenclature by inserting (within brackets) a line, which shall read: “Declared as Deemed-to-be-University’ under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956”.

Neither the Government of India nor the UGC shall provide any Plan or Non-Plan grant-in-aid to Chettinad Academy of Research and Education or any of its constituent teaching units.