LexThe Maharashtra Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2023
Maharashtra · state statute
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this act2024: Mah. VIII] 1
THE MAHARASHTRA PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES (ESTABLISHMENT AND
REGULATION) ACT, 2023
[Text as on 13th January 2026]
—————
CONTENTS
PREAMBLE.
SECTIONS.
1. Short title and commencement.
2. Definitions.
3. Detailed Project Report for establishing university.
4. Submission and examination of Detailed Project Report.
5. Issuance of Letter of Intent and compliance report.
6. Establishment and incorporation of university.
7. Secretary Level Committee.
8. Inspection by Secretary Level Committee.
9. Objects of university.
10. Powers and functions of university.
11. University open to all.
12. University to be self-financed.
13. Endowment fund.
14. General fund.
15. Application of general fund.
16. Officers of university.
17. President.
18. Removal of President.
19. Vice-Chancellor.
20. Removal of Vice-Chancellor.
21. Deans of Faculties.
22. Registrar.
23. Controller of Examinations.
24. Chief Finance and Accounts Officer.
25. Other officers.
26. Authorities of university.
27. Governing Body.
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28. Board of Management.
29. Academic Council.
30. Board of Examinations.
31. Other authorities.
32. Disqualification.
33. Vacancies not to invalidate proceedings of any authority or body of university.
34. Filling of casual vacancies.
35. Committees.
36. First Statutes.
37. Subsequent Statutes.
38. First Ordinances.
39. Subsequent Ordinances.
40. Regulations.
41. Admissions.
42. Fees Fixation Committee.
43. Prohibition of capitation fee.
44. Schedule of examinations.
45. Declaration of results.
46. Convocation.
47. Accreditation of university.
48. University to follow rules, regulations, norms, etc., of regulatory bodies.
49. Annual report.
50. Annual accounts and audit.
51. Powers of Government to inspect.
52. Dissolution of university by sponsoring body.
53. Special powers of State Government in certain circumstances.
54. Punishment.
55. Offences by companies.
56. Power to make rules.
57. Transitory provision.
58. Repeal and savings.
59. Power to remove difficulties.
SCHEDULE
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(Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2023
LIST OF AMENDMENT ACTS
1. Amended by Mah. 20 of 2024 (18-03-2025)
2. Amended by Mah. 15 of 2025 (01-01-2025)
3. Amended by Mah. 45 of 2025 (01-09-2025)
4. Amended by Mah. 59 of 2025 (31-12-2025)
Note.- The date mentioned in the bracket indicates the date of commencement of the Act.
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2024: Mah. VIII] The Maharashtra Private Universities 5
(Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2023
MAHARASHTRA ACT No. VIII OF 20241
[THE MAHARASHTRA PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES
(ESTABLISHMENT AND REGULATION) ACT, 2023.]
[This Act received the assent of the Governor on the 18th January 2024 ; assent was first published in
the Maharashtra Government Gazette, Extraordinary No. 10, Part VIII, on the 19th January 2024.]
An Act to enact a law to unify, consolidate and amend the laws relating to the self-financed
private universities in the State of Maharashtra and to provide for establishment, incorporation
and regulation of self-financed private universities in the State for development and
advancement of higher education in the State and for matters connected therewith or incidental
thereto.
WHEREAS, it is expedient to enact a law to unify, consolidate and amend the laws relating to self-
financed private universities in the State of Maharashtra and to provide for establishment, incorporation
and regulation of self -financed private universities in the State for development and advancement of
higher education in the State and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto it is hereby enacted
in the Seventy-fourth Year of the Republic of India, as follows:—
1. Short title and commencement. — (1) This Act may be called the Maharashtra Private
Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2023.
(2) It shall come into force o n such date 2, as the State Government may, by notification in the
Official Gazette, appoint.
2. Definitions.— In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “Academic Council” means the Academic Council of the university;
(b) “adjunct professor”, “adjunct associate professor” or “adjunct assistant professor” means
a person from industry, trade, agriculture, commerce, social, cultural, academic or any other allied
fields who is so designated during the period of collaboration or association with the university;
(c) “authorities” means the authorities of the university as specified by or under this Act;
(d) “Board of Management” means the Board of Management constituted under section 28 of
this Act;
(e) “campus” means the area of university within which it is established;
(f) “center of excellence” means the state-of-the-art training or research center established in
collaboration with industry or for the benefit of the industry and society, to provide all types of
relevant skills to students, in -service employees, working professionals and to undertake joint
projects;
(g) “distance and online education” means education imparted by combination of any two or
more means of communication viz. broadcasting, telecasting, correspondence courses, seminars,
contact programmes or any other such methodology;
(h) “employee” means any person appointed by the university and includes teachers, officers
and other staff of the university;
(i) “existing university” means the university specified in Part-I of the Schedule;
1 For Statement of Objects and Reasons in the L. A. Bill No. LIV of 2023, see Maharashtra Government Gazette ,
Extraordinary No. 54, Part V-A, dated the 15th December 2023, page 35.
2 This Act came into force on the 15 th February 2024, vide Government Notification, Higher and Technical Education
Department, No. Misc. 2023/C. R.-130/Uni.-4, dated 15th February 2024.
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(j) “Expert Committee” means a Committee of eminent persons notified by the Government
to promote, facilitate and assist in the establishment of new private universities in the Maharashtra
constituted under this Act;
(k) “Faculty” means the Faculty of the university;
(l) “fee” means monetary collection made by the university or its colleges, institutions or
study centers, as the case may be, from the students by whatever name it may be called, which is
not refundable;
(m) “Government” or “State Government” means the Government of Maharashtra;
(n) “Governing Body” means the Governing Body constituted under section 27 of this Act;
(o) “higher education” means the pursuit of knowledge beyond learning at the stage of higher
secondary school education;
(p) “hostel” means a place of residence for the students of the un iversity, or its institutions
and study centers, established or recognized to be as such by the university;
(q) “notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette;
(r) “Official Gazette” means the Maharashtra Government Gazette;
(s) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules, Statutes, Ordinances or Regulations, as the case
may be, made by or under this Act;
(t) “President” means the President of the university who shall also be the Chancellor of the
university;
(u) “regulatory body” means a body established by the Central Government for laying down
norms and conditions for ensuring academic standards of higher education, such as University
Grants Commission, All India Council of Technical Education, National Council of Teacher
Education, National Medical Commission, Pharmacy Council of India, National Council of
Assessment and Accreditation, Indian Council of Agriculture Research, Distance Education
Council, Council of Scientific and Indian Research, etc., and includes the Government;
(v) “rules” means the rules prescribed by the State Government;
(w) “Schedule” means the Schedule appended to this Act;
(x) “section” means a section of this Act;
(y) “sponsoring body” in relation to a university established under this Act means,—
(i) a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860); or
(ii) public trust registered under the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act (XXIX of 1950); or
(iii) any Educational Institution established under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956
(1 of 1956) or a company registered under the Companies Act, 2013 (8 of 2013);
(z) “State” means the State of Maharashtra;
(za) “Statutes”, “Ordinances” or “Regulations” means respectively, the Statutes, Ordinances
or Regulations of the university prescribed under this Act;
(zb) “student” means a person enrolled in the university for taking a course of study for a
degree, diploma or other academic distinctions instituted by the university, including a research
degree;
(zc) “study center” means a center established and maintained or recognized by the university
for the purpose of advising, counselling or for rendering any other assistance required by the
students in the context of distance education;
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(Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2023
(zd) “teacher” means a professor, associate profess or, assistant professor, adjunct professor
or any other person required to impart education or to guide research or to render guidance in any
form to the students for pursuing a course of study of the university;
(ze) “university” means the self-financed private university mentioned in the Schedule.
3. Detailed Project Report for establishing university. — (1) Any sponsoring body (including
any private institute conducting an educational activity) desirous of establishing a self -financed private
university under this Act, may submit an application along with a Detailed Project Report (DPR)
containing a proposal for establishment of a university to the Government in such manner alongwith
such processing fees as may be prescribed by rules.
(2) The Detailed Project Report (DPR) shall contain the following particulars, namely:-
(i) the details of the sponsoring body submitting an application under sub -section (1) along
with the copies of its registration certificate, constitution and bye-laws;
(ii) the information regarding financial resources of the sponsoring body along with audited
accounts for the past three years for existing private institutes conducting an educational activity or
plan for mobilization for financial resources duly certified by the Chartered Accountant for newly
established sponsoring body;
(iii) the name, location and headquarters of the proposed university;
(iv) the objects of the university;
(v) the availability of land and details of buildings and infrastructure facilities if already exists;
or the master plan for the land acquisition, building construction and infrastructure establishment,
in compliance with the applicable regulations of local and State bodies;
(vi) the proposed plan and availability of academic facilities includi ng teaching and non -
teaching staff, if any, at the disposal of the sponsoring body;
(vii) the details of plans for campus development such as construction of building,
development of structural amenities and infrastructure facilities and procurement of eq uipments,
etc., to be undertaken before the university starts functioning and phased programme for first five
years;
(viii) the phased outlay of capital expenditure proposed for the next five years and its sources
of finance;
(ix) the nature and the type of programme of study and research proposed to be undertaken
by the university and their relevance to the development goals and employment needs of the State
and phasing of such programme for the first five years with course-wise enrollment targets;
(x) the experience and expertise in concerned disciplines at command of sponsoring body;
(xi) the nature of facilities, courses of study and work of research proposed to be started;
(xii) the estimated recurring expenditure course-wise or activity-wise, source of finance and
estimated expenditure per student;
(xiii) the scheme of mobilization of resources and the cost of capital thereto and the manner
of repayment of such resources;
(xiv) the scheme for generation of funds internally, through the recovery of fees from the
students, revenues anticipated from consultancy services and other activities relating to the objects
of the university and other anticipated income;
(xv) the supportive plan for educational enhancement of the weaker section of society
domiciled in the State through special provision and affirmative action in this regard;
(xvi) the system proposed to be followed for selecting students for admission to the courses
of study of the university;
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(xvii) the nature of programmes related to local needs and nature of specialized teaching,
training or research activities, to be undertaken by the university to fulfill the objects of the
proposed university;
(xviii) whether the university proposes to start some programmes for the benefits of farmers,
agricultural labourers, other labourers, women and industries. If so, details thereof may be given;
(xix) details of playgrounds and other facilities available or proposed to be created for games,
sports and extracurricular activities like National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme
(NSS), etc.;
(xx) the arrangements proposed to be made for academic auditing;
(xxi) justification regarding the necessity of establishment of the proposed university;
(xxii) commitment to follow the norms of the regulatory bodies;
(xxiii) such other details as the sponsoring body may like to give;
(xxiv) such other details as may be prescribed by rules.
4. Submission and examination of Detailed Project Report.— (1) On receipt of an application
containing the proposal for establishing the university alongwith Detailed Project Report (DPR) by the
sponsoring body, the Scrutiny Committee constituted by an order issued by the Government, shall
scrutinize the proposal and Detailed Project Report on the following grounds, namely:-
(a) financial soundness and assets of the sponsoring body and its ability to set up the
infrastructure of the proposed university;
(b) background of the sponsoring body that is to say its expertise and experience in the field
of education, its general reputation, etc., and its commitment to follow the norms of the regulatory
bodies;
(c) potential and capability of sponsoring body to offer, proposed academic programme,
research and innovation activities, framing curriculum as per the education policy of the regulatory
bodies that is to say ability of the academic programme to develop the human resources as per the
requirements of the contemporary demand; including the newness of the programme as defined in
the objects of the proposed university;
(d) the proposal is in consonance with standards of education specified by the concerned
regulatory bodies;
(e) whether the proposal is in consonance with the orders issued by the State Government in
this behalf, from time to time.
(2) The Scrutiny Commi ttee while scrutinizing the proposal and project report under sub -section
(1), may call for such other information from the sponsoring body as it may thinks proper.
(3) The Scrutiny Committee shall submit its report to the Government for consideration wit h the
suggestions, if any.
5. Issuance of Letter of Intent and compliance report. — (1) After receipt of the report of the
Scrutiny Committee constituted under section 4, if the Government is satisfied that it is advisable to
establish the university, it may issue a Letter of Intent, and require the sponsoring body to,-
(a) establish an endowment fund in accordance with the provisions of section 13;
1[(b) submit the registered title deeds showing that the sponsoring body either owns or possess
a minimum land on leasehold basis for a minimum period of thirty years and is in possession of the
said minimum land as per the norms prescribed by rules;]
1 Clause (b) was substituted by Mah. 15 of 2025, s. 2.
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(Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2023
(c) fulfil such other conditions and provide such other information as may be specified by the
University Grants Commission or any other regulatory body established by law;
(d) construct a covered space for administrative purposes and for conducting academic
programmes, as per the norms prescribed by rules, if not already available;
(e) give undertaking to appo int Professor, Associate Professor and adequate number of
Assistant Professors along with necessary supporting staff in each department or discipline to be
started by the university as per the norms laid down by regulatory body;
(f) give undertaking to ta ke up co -curricular activities like seminars, debates, quiz
programmes and extracurricular activities like games, sports, National Service Scheme (NSS),
National Cadet Corps (NCC), etc., for the benefit of students as per the norms laid down by the
regulatory body;
(g) give undertaking for establishment of provident fund and to take up welfare programmes
for the employees of the university;
(h) fulfil such other conditions as to infrastructure and other requirements and provide such
other information as may be laid down by regulatory body or prescribed by rules.
(2) The sponsoring body shall fulfil the requirements and conditions specified in sub -section (1)
and shall report the compliance to the Government within a maximum period of one year from the date
of issue of Letter of Intent. The Government may in exceptional circumstances extend the said period by
an order issued by the Government on payment of such fees as may be specified therein.
(3) On receiving the compliance report by the sponsoring body, the Government shall appoint a
Verification Committee by an order, to verify the compliance report.
(4) The Verification Committee shall submit its report to the Government within one month from
the date of its appointment specifying whether the sponsorin g body has fulfilled the requirements and
conditions laid down in sub-section (1). The Government may extend the period of submission of report
by the said Committee up to the maximum period of three months.
(5) If the sponsoring body fails to comply with the provision of sub-section (1), proposal submitted
by the sponsoring body under section 3 shall stand rejected and the Letter of Intent issued under sub -
section (1), shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.
6. Establishment and incorporation of university.— (1) The Government may, after considering
the report submitted by the Verification Committee under sub -section (4) of section 5, if satisfied that
the sponsoring body has complied with the provisions of section 5, permit the establishment of a private
university, by inclusion of the name, location and headquarters of the private university and its
sponsoring body in Part II of the Schedule by amending the Schedule by enacting a law by the State
Legislature :
1[Provided that, the universities specified in Part II of the Schedule on the date of commencement
of this Act shall be deemed to have been established on that date.]
(2) The President, Vice -Chancellor and members of the Governing Body, Board of Management
and Academic Council and all other persons who may hereafter become such officers or members, so
long as they continue to hold such office or membership, are hereby constituted and declared to be a
body corporate by the name specified therefor in the Schedule.
(3) The universities mentioned in th e Schedule shall have perpetual succession and common seal
and shall sue and be sued by that name.
(4) In relation to each of the existing university and its sponsoring body specified in columns ( 2)
and (4), respectively, of Part I of the Schedule, the corresponding university with the name, location and
headquarters specified against it in column (3) of the said Part, is deemed to have been established under
1 This proviso was inserted by Mah. 20 of 2024, s. 2.
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this Act, for the objects for which it was constituted immediately before the date of commencement of
this Act and the provisions of this Act shall be applicable to such university.
(5) The university shall function as a non -affiliating unitary university established under this Act
and it shall not affiliate any other college or institute for the award or conferment of degree, diploma or
certificate to the students admitted therein.
(6) Every university shall obtain accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation
Council (NAAC) or the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) within five years from its establishment.
(7) Every university shall establish an Internal Quality Assurance Cell as required by the National
Assessment and Accreditation Council for continual internal assurance process and periodic external
peer review. The quality reports shall be submitted to the Government.
7. Secretary Level Committee. — (1) The Secretary Level Committee consisting of Secretaries
of the Higher and Technical Education Department, the Finance Department and the Planning
Department shall, after establi shing the university, verify whether the sponsoring body has complied
with the undertakings submitted by it and the requirements relating to the operationalization of the
university specified in the Letter of Intent and the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder.
(2) The Committee under sub-section (1) shall submit its report to the Government.
(3) On receipt of the report under sub-section (2), the State Government shall publish a notification
in the Official Gazette allowing the operationalization of the university.
(4) The university shall admit students only after issuance of the notification under sub-section (3).
8. Inspection by Secretary Level Committee. — The Secretary Level Committee under sub -
section (1) of section 7 of this Act may carry out an inspection of the university as and when directed by
the Government and shall also verify and ensure compliance of the requirements relating to the
establishment of self -financed private universities and such committee shall also verify an d ensure
compliance of the provisions of the relevant laws for the time being in force.
9. Objects of university.— (1) The objects of the university shall be as follows, namely:—
(a) to provide learning, teaching, capacity, capability and skills development and research and
development in Higher and Technical Education covering Liberal Arts, Humanities, Social
Sciences, Life Sciences and Biotechnologies, Nano -Sciences and Technologies, Professional
Disciplines such as Engineering, Technology, Management, Law, Business and Commerce,
Applied and Creative Arts, Vocational Education, Media, Information and Communication
Technology and Education per se and their inter -disciplinary, multidisciplinary studies and
development;
(b) to provide instructions, teachi ng and training in Higher and Technical Education, Arts,
Sports, Culture, Film, Space Technologies, Marine Research and make provisions for research;
(c) to create higher level of cognitive, affective and psychomotor (head, hearts and hands)
abilities;
(d) to create higher levels of intellectual abilities;
(e) to create and deploy new educational programs to promote creativity, innovation and
entrepreneurship for inventing new ways for development and social reconstruction and
transformation;
(f) to establish state-of-the-art facilities for education and development;
(g) to carry out teaching and research and offer continuing quality education programmes;
(h) to create centres of excellence for research and development in Science and Technology
and Socio-Economic development, and for sharing knowledge and its application;
2024: Mah. VIII] The Maharashtra Private Universities 11
(Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2023
(i) to use modern and post -modern processes, mechanisms and technologies for governance
and management of learning, teaching, researching, evaluating, developing, organizing and
creating socioeconomic wealth for individuals and society in twenty first century;
(j) to provide professional and development services to the industry and public organizations
and society;
(k) to start higher education programs and courses in new and emerging areas with innovative
approaches;
(l) to establish links, collaborations and partnerships with other higher education and research
institutions in India and abroad;
(m) to institute degrees, diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions on the basis of
examinations, or any other methods of evaluation;
(n) to establish innovative approaches for creation of seamlessness in academic structures,
learning time -frames, and working and continuous evaluation processes for nurturing and
cultivation of creativity and entrepreneurship;
(o) to pursue any other objectives as may be suggested by the Government;
(p) to ensure that the standard of the degrees, diplomas, certificates and other academic
distinctions conferred by a university are not lower than those laid down by the All India Council
for Technical Education established under the All India Council for Technical Education Act, 1987
(52 of 1987) or the National Council for Teacher Education established under the National Council
for Teacher Education Act, 1993 (73 of 1993) or University Grants Commission established under
the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956) or the Pharmacy Council of India
constituted under the Pharmacy Act, 1948 (8 of 1948) or the Bar Council of India constituted under
the Advocates Act, 1961 (25 of 1961) or any other statutory body, as the case may be.
(2) The Government may, by notification issued in the Official Gazette, notify the special objects
of the university.
(3) The notification issued under sub -section ( 2) shall be laid before both Houses of the State
Legislature.
10. Powers and functions of university. — The university shall have the following powers and
functions, namely :-
(i) to make provisions and adopt all measures (including adoption and upd ating of the
curricula) in respect of study, teaching and research, relating to the courses through traditional as
well as new innovative modes including on-line education mode ;
(ii) to institute and confer degrees, diplomas, certificates, awards, grades , credits and
academic distinctions;
(iii) to conduct and hold examinations;
(iv) to provide for the degrees, diplomas, certificates, equivalent or corresponding to the
degrees, diplomas, certificates of other recognized universities, Boards or Councils ;
(v) to take all necessary measures for setting up campus;
(vi) to set up central library, departmental libraries, museums and allied matters;
(vii) to institute and confer honorary degrees as may be prescribed;
(viii) to institute and award fellowships, scholarships, studentships as may be specified ;
(ix) to take special measures for spreading educational facilities among the educationally
backward strata of the society;
(x) to encourage and promote sports and other extra-curricular activities ;
12 The Maharashtra Private Universities [2024: Mah. VIII
(Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2023
(xi) to create technical, administrative and other necessary posts and to make appointments
thereto;
(xii) to undertake research projects on mutually acceptable terms and conditions ;
(xiii) to provide consultancy services;
(xiv) to frame Statutes, Ordin ances and Regulations for carrying out the objects of the
university in accordance with the provisions of this Act ;
(xv) to encourage and promote co -curricular activities for personality development of the
teachers, students and employees of the university;
(xvi) to provide for dual degrees, diplomas or certificates vis-a-vis other universities on
reciprocal basis within and outside the country, as per instructions of the State Government,
Government of India and University Grants Commission ;
(xvii) to make provisions for integrated courses in different disciplines in the educational
programmes of the university ;
(xviii) to set-up colleges, institutions, off-campus centers, off-shore campus and study centres,
as per the instructions issued by the State Government, Central Government and University Grants
Commission, from time to time ;
(xix) to receive donations, gifts and grants and to acquire, hold, manage and dispose of any
property, movable or immovable, including trust or endowed property within o r outside the State
for the purposes and objects of the university and to invest funds ;
(xx) to prescribe the fee structure for various courses, from time to time, as per the provisions
of this Act;
(xxi) to demand and receive payments of such fees and other charges as may be specified,
from time to time ;
(xxii) to seek collaboration with other institutions on mutually acceptable terms and
conditions;
(xxiii) to determine salaries, remunerations, honoraria to teachers and employees of the
university in accordance with the norms, specified by the University Grants Commission and the
other regulatory bodies;
(xxiv) to organize and to undertake extra-mural teaching and extension services ;
(xxv) to establish and maintain halls and hostels ;
(xxvi) to recognize, supervise and control halls and hostels not maintained by the university
for the residence of the students and to withdraw any such recognition ;
(xxvii) to regulate and enforce discipline among students and employees of the university and
to take such disciplinary measures as may be deemed necessary ;
(xxviii) to make arrangements for promoting health and general welfare of the students and
the employees of the university ;
(xxix) to co -operate with any other university in and outside the coun try, authority or any
public or private body, having in view the promotion of purposes and objects similar to those of
the university for such purposes as may be agreed upon, on such terms and conditions as may, from
time to time, be specified ;
(xxx) to provide for the printing, re -printing and publication of research and other work,
including text books, which may be issued by the university ;
(xxxi) to comply and follow, from time to time, the provisions of the University Grants
Commission (Establishment of and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities) Regulations,
2003 or any other regulations or directions issued by the University Grants Commission ;
2024: Mah. VIII] The Maharashtra Private Universities 13
(Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2023
(xxxii) to comply with and carry out directives issued by the State Government, from time to
time, with reference to above powers, duties and responsibilities of the university ;
(xxxiii) to do all such things as may be necessary, incidental or conducive to the attainment of
all or any of the objects of the university.
11. University open to all .— (1) No citizen of India shall be excluded from any office of the
university or from membership of any of its authorities, bodies or committees, or from appointment to
any post, or from admission to any degree, diploma, certificate or other academic dist inction or course
of study on the ground only of sex, race, creed, class, caste, place of birth, religious belief or profession,
or political or other opinion.
(2) The university shall adopt policies and orders of the Government issued, from time to time, in
regard to the reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, De -notified Tribes ( Vimukta Jatis),
Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Special Backward Category and Economically Weaker
Sections (EWS) for the purpose of admission of students in t he departments and institutions of the
university.
(3) The university shall adopt the general policy of the State Government in regard to the welfare
of various categories of weaker sections of the society and minorities as directed by the State
Government, from time to time.
12. University to be self -financed.— Every university established under this Act shall be self -
financed. The university shall not be entitled to any financial assistance of any nature from the
Government and any student admitted to university shall not be entitled to claim for any type of financial
assistance or scholarship or reimbursement of fees from the State Government.
13. Endowment fund.— (1) The sponsoring body shall establish an endowment fund for the
university with such amount as may be specified by an order issued by the Government.
(2) The endowment fund shall be used as security deposit to ensure that the university complies
with the provisions of this Act and rules, Statutes, Ordinances or Regulations made thereunder.
(3) The Government shall have the powers to forfeit, in the prescribed manner, a part or whole of
the endowment fund in case the university or the sponsoring body contravenes the provisions of this Act
and rules, Statutes, Ordinances or Regulations made thereunder.
(4) Income from endowment fund may be utilized for development of infrastructure of the
university, but shall not be utilized to meet the recurring expenditure of the university.
(5) The amount of endowment fund shall be invested by the univ ersity until the dissolution of the
university, by way of fixed deposit in the Nationalized Bank with Director of Higher Education as joint
holder, subject to the condition that the amounts so invested from the fund shall not be withdrawn without
the permission of the Government.
14. General fund.— The university shall also establish a fund, which shall be called the general
fund to which following shall be credited, namely:-
(a) fees and other charges received by the university;
(b) any contribution made by the sponsoring body;
(c) any income received from consultancy and other works undertaken by the university;
(d) bequests, donations, endowments and any other grants; and
(e) all other sums received by the university.
15. Application of general fund.— The general fund shall be utilized for meeting all expenses,
recurring or non-recurring in connection with the affairs of the university:
14 The Maharashtra Private Universities [2024: Mah. VIII
(Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2023
Provided that, no expenditure shall be incurred by the university in excess of the limits for total
recurring expenditure and total non-recurring expenditure for the year, as may be fixed by the Board of
Management, without prior approval of the Board of Management.
16. Officers of university.— The following shall be the officers of the university, namely:-
(a) the President, who shall also be the Chancellor;
(b) the Vice-Chancellor;
(c) Deans of Faculties;
(d) the Registrar;
(e) the Chief Finance and Accounts Officer;
(f) the Controller of Examinations; and
(g) such other persons in the service of the university as may be prescribed by the Statutes to
be the officers of the university.
17. President.— (1) The President shall be appointed by the sponsoring body for a period of three
years, with the approval of the Government in such manner, as may be prescribed by rules.
(2) The eligibility criteria for the post of President shall be such as may be prescribed by rules and
Regulations.
(3) The President shall be the Head of the university.
(4) The President shall preside over at the meetings of the Governing Body and convocation of the
university for conferring degrees, diplomas or other academic distinctions.
(5) The President shall have the following powers, namely:-
(a) to call for any information or record from any officer or authority of the university, relating
to the affairs of the university;
(b) to appoint the Vice-Chancellor;
(c) to remove the Vice-Chancellor in accordance with the provisions of section 20;
(d) such other powers as may be prescribed by the Statutes.
18. Removal of President. — The President may be removed from his office by the sponsoring
body, if it is satisfied that the incumbent,—
(a) is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court; or
(b) has been convicted by a court for any offence involving moral turpitude; or
(c) become an undischarged insolvent and stands so declared by a competent court; or
(d) become physically unfit and incapable of discharging the functions or duties of the office
due to protracted illness or physical disability; or
(e) wilfully omitted or refused to carry out the provisions of this Act or has committed breach
of any of the terms and conditions of the service contract or any other conditions prescribed by the
Statutes, or has abused the powers vested in him or if the continuance of the President in the office
has become detrimental to the interests of the university:
Provided that, the President shall be given a reasonable opportunity to show -cause by the
sponsoring body before taking recourse to action under clauses (d) and (e) for his removal from the said
office.
2024: Mah. VIII] The Maharashtra Private Universities 15
(Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2023
19. Vice-Chancellor.— (1) The Vice-Chancellor shall be appointed by the President, from a panel
of three persons, fulfilling such eligibility criteria and on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed
by Statutes, recommended by the Search -cum-Selection Committee constituted as per the rules or
Regulations framed by the University Grants Commission in this behalf. The Vice -Chancellor shall,
subject to the provisions contained in section 20, hold office for a term of three years:
Provided that, after expiry of the term of three years, the Vice -Chancellor shall be eligible for re -
appointment for another term of three years:
Provided further that, the Vice-Chancellor shall continue to hold his office even after expiry of the
said term till the new Vice-Chancellor joins his office; however, in any case, this period shall not exceed
one year.
(2) The Vice-Chancellor shall be the principal executive and academic officer of the university and
shall have the powers of superintendence and control over the affairs of the university and shall execute
the decisions of various authorities of the university.
(3) The Vice-Chancellor shall preside over at the convocation of the university in absence of the
President.
(4) If, in the opinion of the Vice-Chancellor, it is necessary to take immediate action on any matter
for which powers are conferred on any other authority by or under this Act, he may take such action as
he deems necessary and shall at the earliest opportunity there after, report his action to such officer or
authority who would have in the ordinary course dealt with the matter:
Provided that, if in the opinion of the concerned officer or authority such action should not have
been taken by the Vice -Chancellor, then s uch case shall be referred to the President, whose decision
thereon shall be final.
(5) If, in the opinion of the Vice -Chancellor, any decision of any authority of the university is
outside the powers conferred by this Act or Statutes, Ordinances, Regulations or rules made thereunder
or is likely to be prejudicial to the interests of the university, he shall request the concerned authority to
revise its decision within fifteen days from the date of decision and in case the authority refuses to revise
such decision wholly or partly or fails to take any decision within fifteen days, then such matter shall be
referred to the President and his decision thereon shall be final.
(6) The Vice-Chancellor shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be prescribed
by the Statutes or the Ordinances.
20. Removal of Vice-Chancellor.— The Vice-Chancellor may be removed from his office by the
President if, he is satisfied that the incumbent,—
(a) is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court; or
(b) been convicted by a court for any offence involving moral turpitude; or
(c) becomes an undischarged insolvent and stands so declared by a competent court; or
(d) become physically unfit and incapable of discharging the functions or duties of the office
due to protracted illness or physical disability; or
(e) wilfully omitted or refused to carry out the provisions of this Act or has committed breach
of any of the terms and conditions of the service contract or any other conditions laid down by the
Statutes or has abused the powers vested in him or the continuance of the Vice -Chancellor in the
office has become detrimental to the interests of the university:
Provided that, the Vice-Chancellor shall be given a reasonable opportunity to show-cause by
the President before taking recourse to clause (d) or (e) for his removal.
21. Deans of Faculties.— (1) The Deans of Faculties shall be appointed by the President in such
manner and on such terms and conditions of service as may be prescribed by the Statutes.
16 The Maharashtra Private Universities [2024: Mah. VIII
(Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2023
(2) The Deans of Faculties shall assist the Vice -Chancellor in managing the academic and other
affairs of the university and shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as may be prescribed
by the Regulations or be entrusted by the President and the Vice-Chancellor.
22. Registrar.— (1) The Registrar shall be appointed by the President in such manner and on such
terms and conditions of service as may be prescribed by the Statutes.
(2) The Registrar shall be the Chief Ad ministrative Off icer of the uni versity. Subject to the
decisions of the authorities of the university, he shall have the power to enter into an agreement, contract;
sign documents and authenticate records on behalf of the university. He shall exercise such powers and
perform such duties as may be prescribed by the Statutes.
(3) The Registrar shall be the Member -Secretary of the Governing Body, Board of Management
and Academic Council, but shall not have the right to vote.
(4) The Registrar shall be the custodian of the records, the common seal and such other property of
the university as the Governing Body may commit to his charge.
(5) The Registrar shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned
to him by the Vice-Chancellor, from time to time.
23. Controller of Examinations.— (1) The Controller of Examinations shall be appointed by the
President in such manner and on such terms and conditions of service as may be prescribed by the
Statutes.
(2) The Controller of Examinations sh all be the principal officer -in-charge of the conduct of
examinations and tests of the university and declarations of their results. He shall discharge his functions
under the superintendence, directions and guidance of the Vice-Chancellor.
(3) The Controller of Examinations shall be a full-time salaried officer of the university and shall
work directly under the direction and control of the Vice-Chancellor of the university. His appointment
shall be for a term of three years and he shall be eligible for re -appointment for a term not exceeding
three years. The qualification and experience for the purpose of selection of the Controller of
Examinations, shall be such as may be prescribed by the Statutes.
(4) The Controller of Examinations shall be responsible for,-
(a) preparing and announcing in advance the calendar of examinations;
(b) arrangement for printing of question papers;
(c) arrangement for the timely publication of result of examinations and other tests;
(d) taking disciplinary action where necessary against the candidates, paper -setters,
examiners, moderators, or any other persons connected with Excerpt shown. Open the full act in Lexace.