The government has accepted the recommendations of an expert committee, which has found 44 deemed universities unfit for this status, but has left it to the Supreme Court for appropriate course of action against them

The Indian government on Tuesday said that it has accepted the recommendations of an expert committee, which has found 44 deemed universities unfit for this status, but left it to the Supreme Court for appropriate course of action against them, reports PTI.

"The government has accepted the findings of the expert committee formed to review the functioning of the deemed universities and submitted its findings to the Supreme Court, which will decide the course of action to be taken," human resources development minister Kapil Sibal told reporters.

He said that no deemed university has been derecognised so far.

"The Supreme Court will decide the course of action. We will take care of all the students (of the deemed universities). Not a single student will be adversely affected. Students of deemed universities will get a university degree," he said.

An expert committee headed by PN Tandon has reviewed the functioning of 126 of the 130 deemed universities. It has found 44 deemed universities unworthy for this status.

Asked whether the unfit 44 deemed universities would be reverted back to the status of colleges, Mr Sibal said, "I do not want to pre-empt what the Supreme Court will decide."

The matter will come before the Supreme Court on 25th January.
 

Differences with the finance ministry over payment schedule and the defence ministry over spectrum release have delayed the auction process for 3G

The Indian government on Tuesday said that radio wave auctions for third generation mobile phone services, or 3G, will be completed by end of March, reports PTI.

"The government is very keen to complete the 3G auction process well within the financial year that ends on March 2010," telecom and IT minister A Raja told reporters on the sidelines of an event.

He said that the notice inviting applications for the 3G auction is likely to come out this week.
Auction for four slots of spectrum was to take place on 14th January but differences with the finance ministry over payment schedule and the defence ministry over spectrum release have delayed the process.

The finance ministry is expecting Rs35,000 crore (Rs350 billion) from the 3G spectrum auction and the proceeds will be used to bridge the fiscal deficit.
 

L&T is planning to take over Healthquarters, in line with the company’s plans to enter the general insurance business, said sources close to the developments

Engineering giant Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) is likely to take over Healthquarters India Pvt Ltd from Paramount Health group, said sources close to the developments.

This could be L&T’s first step towards entering the general insurance business, the sources said, adding that the deal has been almost finalised and a formal declaration from both the companies is awaited.

L&T officials, however, declined to comment on the developments. In a mail to Moneylife, a spokesperson of the company said,”L&T does not comment on any market speculation.”

Earlier in August 2009, a section of the media had reported on L&T’s plans to enter the general insurance business. “We plan to enter the general insurance business and the company will be promoted by L&T,” said YM Deosthalee, chief financial officer, L&T, in a report published by the Indian Express.

Mumbai-based Healthquarters India is a wellness and medical management organisation that helps end-users to achieve a healthier life and facilitates in minimising expenses and difficulties arising due to illness and hospitalisation.

The ‘Permanent Health Record’ services provided by Healthquarters enables an individual to access his or her own health records from anywhere in the world.