Chandigarh: The Chandigarh Administration will not impose any additional land, infrastructure, equipment or endowment fund requirements for the establishment and operation of private universities and higher educational institutions in the Union Territory beyond those already prescribed by national regulatory bodies.The decision follows an examination of recommendations related to minimum land requirements, endowment funds and infrastructure standards for setting up private universities and higher educational institutions in Chandigarh.Officials noted that Chandigarh does not have a separate Private Universities Act or any specific statutory rules prescribing independent norms for land, infrastructure, equipment or endowment funds for private universities. Higher and technical educational institutions in the city are currently governed by regulations issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and other competent statutory authorities.In a notification issued for streamlining regulatory requirements and providing clarity to prospective institutions, the Administration stated that no additional minimum land requirement would be prescribed beyond the norms laid down by the relevant regulatory authorities. Similarly, no separate endowment fund requirement would be imposed apart from those mandated under applicable UGC, AICTE or other statutory regulations.The notification further states that Chandigarh Administration will not prescribe any additional restrictive infrastructure or equipment standards over and above those already specified by the concerned regulatory bodies.However, all institutions establishing or operating in Chandigarh will continue to be required to comply with UGC and AICTE regulations, norms of affiliating universities, building bye-laws, fire and safety regulations, environmental laws and all other statutory requirements applicable in the Union Territory.The move is expected to provide greater regulatory clarity and reduce procedural hurdles for private higher educational institutions seeking to establish campuses in Chandigarh while ensuring adherence to national academic and safety standards.
