Powerful groups associated with private universities are lobbying with the government high-ups and education ministry officials to prevent enactment of the proposed act as law, sources said.

UGC Chairman Prof M Asaduzzaman yesterday told journalists that irregularities at Stamford University and dispute over the post of vice chancellor at Darul Ishan University that led to the students' recent violent outburst would not have taken place if the rules in the Private University Act-92 had been stringent.

The proposed Private University Act - 2004 says that the vice-chancellor must be a noted academician and have at least 20 years of teaching and administrative experience whereas the Private University Act, 1992 and the amended Private University Act, 1998, did not determine the qualification of the vice chancellor.

The proposed act has also included some specific rules and regulations to curtail the authority of the private university trustee boards.

In absence of proper rules, members of the board of trustees of different universities are allegedly taking away huge amount of money and persons without suitable academic background are being appointed as the vice-chancellors, sources said.

The proposed act-2004 also suggested provision for the private universities' charging tuition and other fees consistent with the average income level.

The UGC last month submitted to the prime minister a work plan on higher education for the next 20 years where the above-mentioned suggestions are included, sources said.

The UGC chairman said except in a very few cases, academic and other facilities in private universities are inadequate.

For commercial gains, many private universities allow students' admission without judgement, he said, adding that most of the students do not have the minimum quality for study at the university level.

"Many private university students, who even failed to qualify for admission into the degree colleges, are surprisingly getting 'A' grades," Asaduzzaman said, adding that often private universities give such good grades to attract students.

The UGC chairman also mentioned opening of outer campus, arranging distant education, opening of courses and departments without approval from the UGC, and lack of transparency in admission tests and other academic examinations as the gross irregularities by the private universities.