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After the Al Falah controversy, Haryana has amended its private university law, granting the state stricter powers to penalise, take over, or dissolve institutions violating norms.
Haryana Assembly passes amendment tightening regulation of private universities (Image: PTI)
The Haryana government has amended the Haryana Private Universities Act, 2006, giving itself stronger powers to regulate private higher education institutions. The move follows the controversy surrounding Al Falah University and is aimed at fixing gaps in the existing law that allowed weak oversight and poor enforcement.
Under the amended law, the state has clearly laid down the grounds and process for action against private universities found guilty of mismanagement, providing false or misleading information, or failing to meet academic and regulatory standards. Penalties now include stopping admissions in specific faculties, imposing fines ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore, placing an institution under administration, and, in extreme cases, dissolving it in a phased manner.
The amendment was passed by the state assembly on Monday after the discovery of a white-coat terror module linked to Al Falah University in Faridabad.
An assistant professor from the university was identified as the suicide bomber in the November 10 car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, which killed at least 15 people and left over 20 injured, while two other faculty members were arrested in connection with the case.
Separately, the founder and chairman of the Al Falah Group was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.
The new provisions will apply to 26 private universities in Haryana, including Al Falah University, The NorthCap University, Amity University and Apeejay Satya University.
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The state government said Al Falah had taken advantage of loopholes in the earlier law. Established in 2013, the university has not secured accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, and earlier accreditations of its colleges were not renewed after they lapsed.
Officials admitted that while the previous law required private universities to submit annual reports and financial disclosures, compliance checks were weak and there was no clear mechanism to investigate violations or enforce penalties.
Alongside tightening regulation, the government has also proposed setting up a new University of Design, Innovation and Technology in Gurgaon to promote credible and future-focused higher education in the state.
December 24, 2025, 15:28 IST
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