Uttar Pradesh Amends Private Universities Act to Incorporate New University in Ayodhya

The Uttar Pradesh Private Universities (Amendment) Act, 2025 (U.P. Act no. 7 of 2025) has been enacted to further modify the Uttar Pradesh Private Universities Act, 2019. This legislative instrument, assented to by the Governor on August 21, 2025, primarily facilitates the establishment of a new private university within the state. The Act came into force retrospectively from June 16, 2025. The amendment specifically introduces the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ramayan University, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, into Schedule-2 of the principal Act, with the Maharishi Ramayan, Vidhyapeeth Trust, Delhi, identified as its sponsoring body. This inclusion follows serial number 47 in the existing schedule, marking it as serial number 48. The State Government has also been granted powers to address any difficulties arising from the establishment of this specific university, allowing for adaptations, modifications, additions, or omissions to the principal Act's provisions for a period not exceeding two years from the commencement of the Act. Any such order issued by the government must be published in the Gazette and subsequently laid before both Houses of the State Legislature. This Act formally repeals the Uttar Pradesh Private Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 (U.P. Ordinance no. 6 of 2025), which had been promulgated on June 16, 2025, when the State Legislature was not in session, to address the immediate need for legislative action concerning the new university. A saving clause ensures that any actions taken or things done under the repealed Ordinance are deemed valid under the corresponding provisions of the principal Act as amended by this new Act.

The legislative intent behind the Uttar Pradesh Private Universities (Amendment) Act, 2025, was to expand the higher education landscape in Uttar Pradesh by enabling the establishment of new private universities and regulating their functions. The principal Act, the Uttar Pradesh Private Universities Act, 2019, was originally enacted for this broader purpose, providing a framework for the incorporation and governance of such institutions. The specific policy rationale for this amendment was to integrate the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ramayan University, Ayodhya, into this existing statutory framework. The legislation provided: “In order to provide for the establishment of a new Private University namely, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ramayan University, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, it was decided to amend Schedule-2 of the aforesaid Act.” This decision necessitated an amendment to the 2019 Act to formally recognize and regulate the new institution. The promulgation of an Ordinance prior to the Act underscored the perceived urgency of the matter, addressing a statutory gap that arose when the Legislature was not in session. The subsequent enactment of this Act ensures a permanent legislative basis for the university's establishment and operation, replacing the temporary measure of the Ordinance. The power granted to the State Government to remove difficulties provides a mechanism for smooth implementation during the initial phase of the university's establishment, ensuring that any unforeseen administrative or legal hurdles can be promptly addressed within a defined two-year timeframe.

Keywords: Uttar Pradesh, Private Universities, Amendment Act, Higher Education, Ayodhya, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ramayan University, Legislative Amendment, Ordinance Repeal, State Legislature

Geo Tags: India, Uttar Pradesh District: Ayodhya