Haryana Passes Stringent Private Universities Amendment Amid Al Falah Scrutiny
Haryana Assembly passes amendment empowering govt to appoint administrators in private universities, paving way for action against Al Falah
Chandigarh, December 22, 2025 – The Haryana Legislative Assembly on Monday passed the Haryana Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2025, granting the state government sweeping powers to dissolve management bodies and appoint administrators in private universities found indulging in serious violations, including activities threatening national security or public order.
Introduced by Higher Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda, the bill was cleared on the final day of the short winter session with little opposition, thanks to the BJP’s majority. It plugs what officials called a critical loophole in the 2006 Act: the absence of direct authority to intervene in governing bodies of errant institutions.
Under the new provisions, the government can launch inquiries into “grave lapses” – such as financial irregularities, misuse of campus for unlawful purposes, or anti-national activities – issue show-cause notices, impose fines starting from Rs 10 lakh, and ultimately take over operations by appointing an administrator.
The amendment also mandates yearly academic and administrative audits by the Higher Education Department to ensure standards in teaching, research, and examinations.
While the bill applies to all private universities in the state, its passage comes against the backdrop of intense scrutiny on Faridabad’s Al Falah University, embroiled in allegations of links to a “white-collar terror module” uncovered after a blast near Delhi’s Red Fort last month.
Probes by the NIA, ED, and state agencies have flagged financial opacity, fake accreditations, and potential terror funding at Al Falah, with its founder-chairman already in ED custody. Reports indicate the government is gearing up to appoint administrators in as many as 26 private universities, with Al Falah expected to be among the first.
Opposition voices in the House raised questions about possible selective enforcement but did not block the bill amid the session’s broader disruptions.
Education department sources described the changes as essential for accountability in a sector that has grown rapidly, with over two dozen private universities now operating in Haryana. “This gives the state real teeth to act without having to shut down institutions entirely,” one official said.
As the winter session concluded sine die, the amended law is set for quick notification, marking a tougher regulatory regime for private higher education in the state – and likely immediate repercussions for institutions like Al Falah already under the scanner.
