NEW DELHI: Having found nothing wrong with deemed universities, UGC has decided, much against HRD ministry's wish, to send a report of its review to the ministry for action.

On Friday, the full commission met and approved the consolidated report of 50 deemed universities all of whom have been found to have adequate academic, administrative and financial facilities. Inadequate facilities in case of few deemed universities have been overlooked on the ground that these institutions are working towards improvement.

In the next meeting to take place within a fortnight, the consolidated report of more deemed universities will be finalised. Barring physical verification of few government-run deemed universities, UGC has finished the review work and not found fault with even a single institution.

HRD had asked UGC not to send a report till the ministry's own review committee, looking into the same set of deemed universities, does not give its report. But sources in UGC said, "It was felt that since UGC has finished its work, the report should be with the ministry. The two review committees have anyway adopted different methods and are not working at cross-purposes."

But there is a growing realisation that asking UGC to review deemed universities was a bad decision and could help these institutions. What action on UGC review report, a source asked, can be taken by HRD ministry when its own review committee is also carrying out a parallel exercise? UGC's report can put the ministry in a dilemma and even cast a shadow on HRD review committee's pending report.

How? Ministry's review committee is likely to come down heavily on a few deemed universities and might recommend withdrawal of their `deemed' status. "It will create a piquant situation," a ministry official said. According to him, "In such a situation, any deemed university not found fit by the HRD committee will use UGC committee's report to prove that it meets all standards."

Another problem, sources said, is that as per the UGC Act, `deemed' status is given by the ministry on the commission's advice. Even withdrawal of the status has to be recommended by UGC. But the commission has not recommended withdrawal even in a single case. "Deemed universities will definitely challenge any adverse recommendation by HRD committee. UGC should not have been asked to conduct the review," a source said.