Three private universities fined Tk 10 lakh each

The Supreme Court yesterday fined three private universities Tk 10 lakh each for admitting students beyond the approval of University Grants Commission (UGC).

South East University, Eastern University and Islamia University were ordered to pay the fine to the Liver Transplant Unit of Birdem General Hospital and Kidney Foundation Hospital. The universities were fined over admitting students to their law faculties in excess of the limit set by UGC.

However, the apex court upheld the HC order that directed Bangladesh Bar Council to allow candidates from the three universities to fill up forms and to give them registration cards so they can appear for its enrollment test.

According to the ruling, the Bar Council will allow candidates to appear for the test only after the universities have paid the fines and placed money receipts before the Appellate Division of the SC.

A six-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, passed the order after rejecting three review petitions filed by Bangladesh Bar Council seeking necessary order to fine the institutions for violating UGC’s directives, Additional Attorney General Murad Reza told The Daily Star.

On April 23, 2014, the UGC issued a directive stating private universities will not be allowed to admit more than 50 students to their law faculties per semester. The Bar Council on October 1 last year issued a notification saying it will not issue registration cards beyond 50 LLB Honours graduates from private universities per semester.

Following this, students of the three universities filed petitions with the HC challenging the SC decision. The HC on different dates in September last year directed the Bar Council to allow the students to appear for the test.

The SC on October 27 upheld the HC directives, following leave-to-appeal petitions by the Bar Council.