Private University approvals under cloud in Manipur

The approval process for private universities in Manipur has come under a cloud, with mounting concerns over transparency and possible procedural lapses after officials of the Directorate of University and Higher Education failed to appear in two consecutive hearings before the Manipur Information Commission.
The controversy stems from a Right to Information (RTI) application seeking key documents related to the establishment of private universities under the Manipur Private Universities Act, 2021. The applicant requested access to evaluation committee reports, approval files, and decision-making records, documents that are central to verifying whether mandatory eligibility criteria and due procedures were followed.
Instead of providing the information or transferring the application as required under the RTI Act, the SPIO of the Directorate reportedly claimed that the matter does not fall within its jurisdiction. The First Appellate Authority further directed the applicant to approach private universities for the information, a position that has drawn criticism for misinterpreting the law, as the approval of universities is a statutory function of the State Government.
After the Directorate declined to provide the requested information, a second appeal was filed before the Manipur Information Commission, seeking directions to the SPIO to furnish the information in accordance with the RTI Act, 2005.
The first hearing was held on December 19, 2025, during which L. Ibotombi Singh, Legal Officer of the Directorate, appeared before the Commission and sought additional time to re-examine the matter. The Commission allowed the request and scheduled the next hearing for February 9, 2026.
However, on the scheduled date, officials of the Directorate failed to appear before the Commission without providing any reason. Taking note of the absence, the Commission fixed another hearing for March 24, 2026, with clear instructions for the Directorate to ensure its presence.
In today’s hearing as well, the Directorate once again failed to appear, without any prior intimation or justification.
For the hearing of RTI appeal cases, the Commission provided flexibility to public authorities by permitting appearance through physical presence, authorised representatives, or online mode. Despite these options, no official appeared.
This repeated non-appearance has intensified concerns over the Directorate’s handling of the case and has raised serious questions about whether there is an attempt to avoid disclosure of records related to the approval process.
Records such as evaluation committee reports, eligibility assessments, and approval decisions are official documents maintained by the Government and are subject to disclosure under the RTI Act. The continued refusal to provide such information, they say, undermines transparency in a matter involving the exercise of statutory powers.
With the Information Commission empowered to proceed ex-parte and initiate penalty proceedings for non-compliance, the case is expected to test the accountability of the concerned authorities.
As the proceedings unfold, a larger question looms: Were private universities in Manipur approved after rigorous scrutiny, or is the approval process now being shielded from public scrutiny?