In a significant development impacting higher education in Haryana, Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) in Rohtak has lost its prestigious A+ grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). The issue has been brought to light by former Haryana deputy chief minister and JJP leader Dushyant Chautala, who has termed the matter as "extremely serious," especially as students were allegedly kept unaware of this critical change.
Accreditation Withdrawn, Future of Students at Stake
Dushyant Chautala revealed that according to available information, MDU Rohtak's A+ NAAC rating was withdrawn as early as November 2024. He emphasized that the loss of this crucial accreditation would negatively impact the higher education prospects and careers of thousands of students enrolled at the university. The NAAC grade is a vital benchmark for the quality of an institution and affects the value of degrees in the job market and for higher studies.
Chautala explained that as per norms, an inspection was required during the current academic session to renew the NAAC accreditation. However, he alleged that the university administration failed to conduct this mandatory inspection due to sheer negligence. "This incident has damaged the university's reputation and pushed the future of enrolled students into uncertainty," he stated.
Political Interference and Allegations Against Vice-Chancellor
The JJP leader did not mince words while assigning blame for the situation. He directly held the university's vice-chancellor responsible and pointed to broader systemic issues. "Political interference had deteriorated the standards of several universities in Haryana, including MDU," Chautala claimed while speaking to mediapersons during a public outreach program in the rural areas of Hisar district.
He made a serious allegation against the V-C, stating, "In an attempt to please his political masters, the V-C deliberately avoided the inspection so that a decline in the university's rating during his tenure would not come to light." Chautala further added fuel to the fire by alleging that the vice-chancellor's own academic degree is under scrutiny, with the Kurukshetra police and Kurukshetra University currently investigating the matter.
Demands for Action and Parallel to Stadium Tragedy
Demanding accountability, Dushyant Chautala insisted that strict action must be taken against the vice-chancellor and other responsible officials. He announced that INSO, the student wing of the JJP, would strongly raise the issue. A formal demand would also be placed before the Governor of Haryana, who serves as the chancellor of the university, to take cognizance of the matter.
The former deputy CM drew parallels, noting that two other universities in the country had witnessed similar incidents, and strict action was taken in those cases, setting a precedent for MDU Rohtak.
Separately, speaking on the recent tragic death of two basketball players in the state, Chautala called it an unprecedented incident on a sports field, blaming it on the poor maintenance of stadiums. He demanded the immediate repair of all old sports complexes and equipment, highlighting a pattern of administrative neglect affecting both education and sports infrastructure in Haryana.
