The Sister Nivedita University Act, 2017

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL
LAW DEPARTMENT
Legislative

No. 25-L.- 9th January, 2018.

NOTIFICATION

The following Act of the West Bengal Legislature, having been assented to by the Governor, is hereby published for general information:-

West Bengal Act XLIX of 2017
THE SISTER NIVEDITA UNIVERSITY ACT, 2017.

An Act to provide for the establishment and incorporation of the Sister Nivedita University at New Town, in the district of North 24-Parganas, West Bengal and to confer the status of a Private University thereon and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.

Whereas it is expedient to provide for the establishment and incorporation of the Sister Nivedita University at New Town, in the district of North 24-Parganas, West Bengal promoted by the Institute of Computer Engineers (India), an educational and charitable Society duly registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961, and to confer the status of a Private University thereon and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto;

It is hereby enacted in the Sixty-eighth Year of the Republic of India, by the Legislature of West Bengal, as follows:-

1. Short title, extent and commencement.

(1) This Act may be called the Sister Nivedita University Act, 2017.

(2) It shall extend to the whole of the State of West Bengal.

(3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

2. Definitions.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(1) “Academic Council” means the Academic Council of the University;

(2) “Administrator” means the Administrator appointed under this Act by the State Government;

(3) “Board of Studies” means the Board of Studies attached to the School of Post-graduate and Undergraduate Studies of the University;

(4) “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Governing Board;

(5) “Chancellor” means the Chancellor of the University;

(6) “constituent college” means a college established and administered by the Sponsoring society anywhere in the State of West Bengal, irrespective of the fact that such college is affiliated to any other University;

(7) “distance education” means education imparted by a combination of any two or more means of communication like contact programmes, correspondence courses, online courses, broadcasting, telecasting, seminars and any other such methodology;

Note.- Through distance education a student is expected to study a course or a part of it without being present physically;

(8) “employee” means a person appointed by the University to work in the University or its study centres, off-campus centres, off-shore campus and includes a teacher, officer and any other employee of the University other than the Visitor;

(9) “fee” means collection of money made by the University from the students for the purpose of any course of study and incidental thereto, in the University;

(10) “Finance Committee” means the Finance Committee of the University;

(11) “Governing Board” means the Governing Board of the University;

(12) “Governor” means the Governor of the State of West Bengal;

(13) “Off campus centre” means a centre of the University established by it outside the main campus, operated and maintained as its constituent unit, having the University’s complement of facilities and employees;

(14) “Off-shore campus” means a campus of the University established by it outside India, operated and maintained as its constituent unit, having the University’s complement of facilities and employees;

(15) “Online education” means a form of distance education where primary delivery mechanism is via the internet, allows anyone with computer access to learn and earn credits;

(16) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(17) “Registered office” means the registered office of the University;

(18) “Regulatory Body” means-

(a) a body established by the Central Government for laying down norms and conditions for ensuring academic standards of higher education in its designated areas of coverage, including University Grants Commission, All India Council for Technical Education, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Department of Science and Technology, Distance Education Council, Indian Council of Scientific Research, National Assessment and Accreditation Council, National Council for Teacher Education, Pharmacy Council for India, Bar Council of India, Medical Council of India, Dental Council of India, Indian Nursing Council, Central Council of Homoeopathy, Central Council of Indian Medicine, Council of Architecture, Rehabilitation Council of India and such other statutory body as may be established or incorporated by the Central Government for the purpose of regulating higher education; and

(b) the State Government of West Bengal in the Higher Education, Science and Technology and Biotechnology Department;

(19) “Regulatory Committee” shall mean the Committee constituted by the State Government for the purpose of this Act;

(20) “Sponsoring society” in relation to the University means the Institute of Computer Engineers (India), an educational and charitable society duly constituted and registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961;

(21) “State Government” means the Government of West Bengal in the Higher Education, Science and Technology and Biotechnology Department;

(22) “Statutes, Regulations and Ordinances” shall mean respectively the Statutes, the Regulations and the Ordinances of the University as may be framed by the University in the manner provided under this Act with prior approval of the State Government; .

(23) “Student” means a person enrolled in the University for taking a course of study leading to a degree, diploma, certificate or other academic distinction duly instituted by the University including a research degree;

(24) “Study Centre” means a centre established and maintained or recognized by the University for the purpose of advising, counselling or for rendering any other assistance required by the student in the context of distance education;

(25) “Teacher” means a Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, or any other person required to impart education or to guide research or to render guidance in any other form to the students for pursuing a course of study in the University for the purpose of this Act;

(26) “University” means the Sister Nivedita University established and incorporated under section 3 of this Act;

(27) “University Grants Commission” means the University Grants Commission, established under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.

3. Establishment and incorporation of the University.

(1) There shall be established and incorporated a University by the name of the Sister Nivedita University at New Town, North 24-Patganas within the territory of West Bengal duly sponsored and financed by the Institute of Computer Engineers (India), an educational and charitable society, more specifically described under Schedule A to this Act, on the property mentioned under Schedule B to this Act.

(2) The University shall be a body corporate by the name of the Sister Nivedita University having perpetual succession and common seal and shall, by the said name, sue and be sued.

(3) The University shall be a self-financed unitary University.

(4) In all suits and other legal proceedings by or against the University, the pleadings shall be signed and verified by the Registrar or any other official as may be duly authorized by the Chancellor and all processes in such suits and proceedings shall be issued to, and served on, the Registrar or on such other official as may be authorised by the Chancellor.

(5) The headquarters of the University shall be at the University campus at New Town, North 24-Parganas, West Bengal.

(6) The University may have departments or schools or centres anywhere in the State of West Bengal as may be decided by the Governing Board with prior approval of the State Government.

(7) All existing institutes held by the sponsoring society may be integrated within the University after being subsumed by the University in due course as may be decided by the Governing Board and with prior approval of the State Government in writing:

Provided that every such institute so subsumed within the University shall, under no circumstances, be permitted to be used or operated as the University study centre, University campus, Off campus, Off-shore campus or in any like manner within such period as may be determined by the State Government, from time to time:

Provided further that the procedure of subsumption shall be such as may be notified by the State Government:

Provided also that the University shall have power to administer and manage, including the powers of conferring Degree, diploma, title, certificates etc. to its constituent colleges.

4. Properties of the University and its application.

The properties of the University shall be applied for meeting the liabilities of the University in the event of dissolution or winding up of the University in such manner as may be prescribed by rules.

5. Restrictions and obligations of the University.

(1) The tuition fees for professional courses such as Engineering and Technology, in the University shall be such as may be determined by the State Government from time to time.

(2) The University shall allow free-ship in tuition fees to at least five percent of their total strength, to the students belonging to poor and economically backward classes.

Note.- The relevant criteria for determining poor and economically backward class shall be such as may be determined by the State Government from time to time.

(3) The University shall compulsorily make provision for reservation of seats for the students domiciled in the State of West Bengal to the extent of at least twenty-five percent of the total number of students in the University.

(4) The University shall make provisions for reservation of non-teaching posts in the University for the persons domiciled in the State of West Bengal to the extent of at least fifty percent of the total number of non-teaching employees of the University.

(5) The University shall appoint adequate number of teachers and officers in the University for maintaining the academic standards specified and shall ensure that the qualifications of such teachers or officers of the University shall not be lower than as prescribed by the relevant Regulatory Bodies.

(6) The University shall compulsorily place in the public domain every information in relation to the University which would be of interest to the students and other stake holders including the courses offered, number of seats under different quotas, fees and other charges, facilities and amenities offered, faculty in place and other relevant information.

(7) The tuition fees determined under sub-section (1) shall be applicable for the students who are admitted through the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination.

6. Objects of the University.

The objects of the University shall be as follows, namely:-

(i) to provide instruction, teaching, training and research in various branches and specialized fields of study of Science, Engineering, Technology, Medicine, Para Medical, Nursing, Management, Law, Humanities, Language and Literature, Pharmacy, Architecture, Social Sciences, Education, Performing Arts, Sports, Hospital Management, Media, Design, Hospitality Management, Vocational education and skill development, Commerce, Environmental Science and Ecology, Art and Craft and any other emerging fields of study including imparting of skills that have employment potentiality and necessary for the society and the environment;

(ii) to encourage study of modem technology and professional courses;

(iii) to establish the main campus at New Town, North 24-Parganas, West Bengal, and to have study centres, campuses, Off-campus centres, Off-shore campuses and regional centres at different places in India and abroad as per the norms and regulations of West Bengal;

(iv) to provide regular and distance education and Online programmes;

(v) to institute degrees, honorary degrees, diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions on the basis of examination, or any other method of evaluation;

(vi) to collaborate with other colleges or Universities, research institutions, industry and industry associations, professional associations or any other organization, in India and abroad, and to conceptualize, design and develop specific educational and research programmes, training programmes and exchange programmes for students including transfer of academic credit, faculty members and others;

(vii) to disseminate knowledge through seminars, conferences, executive education programmes, community development programmes, publications, online programmes and training programmes;

(viii) to undertake programmes for the training and development of faculty members and teachers of the University and other institutions, organisations or industries in India and abroad;

(ix) to undertake collaborative research with any organization in India and abroad;

(x) to create higher levels of intellectual abilities;

(xi) to create entrepreneurs by providing necessary skills and support;

(xii) to provide consultancy to industry, Government, public, private, Non-Governmental Organization;

(xiii) to create an Industry Academia partnership by inviting Industry and institutions in the University’s campus and other University’s places for mutual benefits;

(xiv) to collaborate with any Industry or Institutions or Universities or Organisations in India and abroad for establishing joint research centre, school of study, skill development centre or similar academic institutions;

(xv) to ensure that the standard of degrees, diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions are not lower than those laid down by the Regulatory Bodies in India;

(xvi) to do all things necessary or expedient to promote the objectives of this Act;

(xvii) to pursue any other objective as may be assigned to the University by the State Government.

7. University shall remain open to all irrespective of sex, religion, class, colour, creed or opinion.

No person shall be discriminated against or be excluded from any office of the University or from membership of any of its authorities or from admission to any course of study leading to a degree, diploma or other academic distinction on the grounds of sex, race, creed, caste, class, place of birth and religious belief or political or other opinion.

8. Powers and functions of the University.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, the University shall exercise the following powers and functions, namely:-

(i) to administer and manage the University, its departments, schools, centres for research, education and instruction as are necessary for the furtherance of the objects of the University;

(ii) to establish, administer, maintain and manage campuses, libraries, laboratories, museums and such other institutions or centres for study, research and training as it may deem necessary;

(iii) to provide for instruction, education, training and research in such branches of knowledge or learning of its programmes of study and allied areas;

(iv) to conduct innovative experiments in new methods and technologies in the core and emerging fields of education to achieve high standards of such education, training and research;

(v) to provide courses and curricula and to provide for flexibility in the education system and delivery methodologies, including electronic and distance learning;

(vi) to hold examinations through physical or electronic mode and to confer degrees, diplomas or to grant certificates and other academic distinctions or to award titles on persons, subject to such conditions, as the University may determine, and to withdraw or cancel any such degrees, diplomas, certificates, or other academic distinctions or titles in the manner provided for by the Regulations;

(vii) to confer ordinary and honorary degrees or other distinctions in the manner provided for by the Statutes;

(viii) to formulate policy and determine the standard of admission which may include examination, evaluation or any other method of testing;

(ix) to institute Professorships including chair professorships and other teaching posts required by the university and to appoint persons to such Professorships or other teaching posts, or to recognize persons as Professors, Associate Professors or Assistant Professor of the University, or as holders of other teaching posts of the university for the purpose of imparting instruction and for conducting research in the University;

(x) to provide the powers and duties of officers of the University;

(xi) to establish such centres, specialized study centres or other units within the campus and departments for research and instruction as are in the opinion of the University necessary for the furtherance of its objects;

(xii) to collaborate with any Industry or Institutions or Universities or Organisations in India and abroad for establishing joint research centre, school of study, skill development centre or similar academic institutions;

(xiii) to provide printing, reproduction and publication of research and other works and to organize exhibitions;

(xiv) to sponsor and undertake research in all disciplines of study and its allied areas;

(xv) to extend grant from the University fund to any other charitable organisation having similar objects of the University;

(xvi) to collaborate or associate with, advise, administer, control, develop, maintain, or take over by way of merger or otherwise, any educational institution having similar objects;

(xvii) to develop and maintain linkages with educational or other institutions in any part of the world through exchange of teachers and scholars in such manner as may be conducive to their common objects;

(xviii) to develop and maintain linkages with educational or other institutions in any part of the world through exchange of students and transfer of academic credit in such manner as may be conducive to their common objects;

(xix) to develop and maintain relations with teachers, researchers, and domain experts in information and communication technology and allied areas in any part of the world for achieving the objects of the University;

(xx) to enter into agreement with the State Government or with any person, body or authority for taking over of the management of any institution, including its assets and liabilities by the University, or for any other purpose not repugnant to the provisions of this Act;

(xxi) to regulate expenditure and to manage the finances and to maintain accounts of the University;

(xxii) to determine tuition fees or other charges for admission and for examinations and other purposes, and to demand and receive the fees or other charges so determined;

(xxiii) to receive funds from industry, institutions, national and international organizations, national or international financial institutions including nationalized banks or from any other source, or to receive loans, subsidies, grants, assistance, donations, benefactions, bequests and to transfer of movable and immovable properties, for the purposes and objects of the University in such manner as may be provided for by the Regulations;

(xxiv) to impart instruction through distance education and online education with the approval of the appropriate authority;

(xxv) to introduce interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary or integrated courses in selected subjects;

(xxvi) to establish, maintain and manage halls and hostels for the use and residence of the students;

(xxvii) to supervise and control the residence and re