Raj Bhawan clarifies on Jauhar University bill

Lucknow, May 10 (UNI) The Raj Bhawan today clarified it has not returned the controversial Mohammed Ali Jauhar Private University Bill to the Mulayam Singh government.

The Raj Bhawan said, ''the bill has not been returned as such.'' A spokesperson to Governor T V Rajeswar said the Raj Bhawan had sought clarifications from the legislative department on certain issues pertaining to two private varsity bills. The other being Mangalayatan University, Aligarh.

''The Supreme Court judgement of February 11, 2005 on the private varsities of Chattisgarh have laid down the various parameters and pre-requisites -- to be fulfilled by any private university -- before it is duly set up,'' he added.

He claimed since it was not clear whether the proposals for the two private varsities met these parameters, a clarification was sought from the legislative department.

The setting up of the Ali Jauhar university had created differences between the state government and the Raj Bhawan with senior Samajwadi Party leader and state Urban Affairs minister Md Azam Khan coming out openly against the Governor.

Earlier, during his visit to Rampur last month, Mr Rajeswar had hinted the bill contained some flaws.

The governor had already sent for presidential references to a similar bill for setting up the university by the Mulayam Singh Yadav government in public sector.

The Raj Bhawan had also objected to the clause that Mr Azam Khan should be the life time pro-chancellor of the proposed varsity.

UNI NAB VS MSJ DS1510