Section 6 of the Central Universities Act, 2009 - Powers of University

Section 6 defines the statutory powers available to a University governed by the Central Universities Act, 2009. These powers cover teaching and research, degrees and academic distinctions, appointments, collaboration, admissions, student and employee welfare, property, finance and other functions necessary to achieve the objects of the University.

Meaning and scope of Section 6

Section 6 is an enabling provision. Sub-section (1) specifies the principal powers that a University may exercise for its academic, administrative and institutional purposes. Sub-section (2) requires the University, while exercising those powers, to endeavour to maintain an all-India character and high standards of teaching and research, and identifies measures directed toward those objectives.

Section 6(1): Statutory powers of the University

1. To provide for instruction in such branches of learning, including natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, engineering, technology and medicine, as the University may from time to time determine, and to make provision for research and for the advancement and dissemination of knowledge.
2. To grant, subject to such conditions as the University may determine, diplomas or certificates and to confer degrees or other academic distinctions on persons on the basis of examination, evaluation or any other method of testing, and to withdraw such diplomas, certificates, degrees or academic distinctions for good and sufficient cause.
3. To organise and undertake extramural studies, training and extension services.
4. To confer honorary degrees or other distinctions in the manner prescribed by the Statutes.
5. To provide facilities through the distance education system to such persons as it may determine.
6. To institute Principalships, Professorships, Associate Professorships, Assistant Professorships and other teaching or academic positions required by the University and to appoint persons to those positions.
7. To recognise an institution of higher learning for such purposes as the University may determine and to withdraw such recognition.
8. To appoint persons working in any other University or academic institution, including those outside India, as teachers of the University for a specified period.
9. To create administrative, ministerial and other posts and to make appointments to them.
10. To co-operate, collaborate or associate with any other University, authority or institution of higher learning, including those outside India, in such manner and for such purposes as the University may determine.
11. To establish centres, specialised laboratories or other units for research and instruction that the University considers necessary for furthering its objects.
12. To institute and award fellowships, scholarships, studentships, medals and prizes.
13. To establish and maintain colleges, Institutions and Halls.
14. To make provision for research and advisory services and, for that purpose, to enter into arrangements with other institutions, industrial organisations or other organisations as the University considers necessary.
15. To organise and conduct refresher courses, workshops, seminars and other programmes for teachers, evaluators and other academic staff.
16. To appoint, on contract or otherwise, visiting Professors, Emeritus Professors, Consultants and other persons who may contribute to advancement of the objects of the University.
17. To confer autonomous status on a College, Institution or Department, as the case may be, in accordance with the Statutes.
18. To determine standards of admission to the University, which may include examination, evaluation or any other method of testing.
19. To demand and receive payment of fees and other charges.
20. To supervise the residences of students and make arrangements for promoting their health and general welfare.
21. To lay down conditions of service of all categories of employees, including their code of conduct.
22. To regulate and enforce discipline among students and employees and to take such disciplinary measures as the University considers necessary.
23. To make arrangements for promoting the health and general welfare of employees.
24. To receive benefactions, donations and gifts and to acquire, hold and manage, and, with the previous approval of the Central Government, dispose of movable or immovable property, including trust and endowment properties, for the purposes of the University.
25. To borrow, with the previous approval of the Central Government, on the security of the property of the University, money for the purposes of the University.
26. To do all other acts and things necessary, incidental or conducive to attaining all or any of the objects of the University.

Section 6(2): All-India character and academic standards

While exercising the powers under sub-section (1), the University is required to endeavour to maintain an all-India character and high standards of teaching and research. Section 6(2) identifies, in particular, the following measures:

1. Admission of students and recruitment of faculty on an all-India basis.
2. Admission of students on merit, either through Common Entrance Tests conducted individually by the University or together with other Universities, or on the basis of marks in the qualifying examination in courses where student intake is small.
3. Encouragement of inter-University mobility of faculty, with portable pensions and protection of seniority.
4. Introduction of the semester system, continuous evaluation and choice-based credit system, together with agreements with other Universities and academic institutions for credit transfer and joint degree programmes.
5. Introduction of innovative courses and programmes of study with provision for periodic review and restructuring.
6. Ensuring active participation of students in academic activities of the University, including evaluation of teachers.
7. Obtaining accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council or another accrediting agency at the national level.
8. Introduction of e-governance with an effective management information system.

Key legal points

The powers in Section 6 are broad but are not isolated from the rest of the statutory framework. Several clauses expressly make the exercise of power subject to conditions, the Statutes or previous approval of the Central Government. Accordingly, questions concerning appointments, autonomy, property, borrowing, admissions or disciplinary action may also require examination of the relevant Statutes, Ordinances, Regulations and other applicable law.

Related provisions

For the institutional framework following Section 6, see the linked provisions on the University's inclusive character, Visitor and officers of the University in the related-sections panel.

This page is an informational presentation of Section 6. For authoritative use, consult the current official text of the Central Universities Act, 2009 and applicable amendments.