Chapter II UNIVERSITY

(1) There shall be established and constituted in and for the State of Gujarat a University to be known as “the Shree Somnath Sanskrit University".

(2) The Chancellor, the first Vice-Chancellor, of the University and the first members of the Executive Council and the Academic Council of the University, the first Registrar and all persons who may hereafter become such officers or members so long as they continue to hold such office or membership, are hereby constituted a body corporate by the name of "the Shree Somnath Sanskrit University".

(3) The University shall have perpetual succession and a common seal and shall sue and be sued by the said name.

(4) The University shall be competent to acquire and hold property, both movable and immovable, to lease, sell or otherwise transfer any movable or immovable property which may vest in or be acquired by it for the purposes of the University, to raise loans on the securities of its assets and to contract and do all other things necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act:

Provided that the power to raise any such loan shall be exercised after obtaining the previous permission of the State Government.

(5) The headquarters of the University shall be at Somnath, District- Junagadh, Gujarat State.

The objects of the University shall be as follows, namely: – (a) to rejuvenate, cherish and disseminate the universal values, knowledge, wisdom and vision presented in Sanskrit language and literature and establish a progressive synthesis between ancient Indian wisdom and modern scientific thought in harmony with the needs of present and future; (b) to extend the benefits of knowledge and skills for the development of individuals and society by promoting the study of Sanskrit and cognate discipline; (c) to encourage develop and foster the ideals and values enshrined in the Vedic study and Sanskrit literature and Shastras in the Sanskrit and other ancient languages and to bring these ideals and values in harmony with the needs of present and future generation and project a progressive synthesis in the light of the insights contained in the Sanskrit and other ancient languages; (d) to encourage, promote and conduct a system of education relevant to the studies of the Sanskrit literature with special emphasis on, - (i) the traditional relationship between the teacher and the taught (Guru-Shishya Parampara); (ii) methods of studies and experimentation in which discipline (anushashan) and self-study (swadhyaya) are fundamental components; and (iii) development of faculties, not only of empirical and rational knowledge but also of higher modes of consciousness; (e) to create and develop facilities for the integral development of personality of students under an atmosphere conducive to the fostering of capacities and values of physical, vital, mental, moral, scientific, aesthetic and spiritual growth; (f) to provide facilities for teachers and students for learning- teaching processes so that individual attention to students is provided and objectives of scholarship and excellence are promoted; (g) to provide facilities for the study and practice of the traditional Vedic system of recitation from the early stage of education and to provide environment and facilities under which foundations of Sanskrit studies can be established among the young learners; (h) to develop and conduct teaching methodologies, practicable Sanskrit pedagogy for the benefit of educational innovations; (i) to provide facilities and programmes of studies centered on the cultural heritage of India leading to a harmonious synthesis of the East and the West; (j) to develop special courses of study of Sanskrit and to apprise of the major contribution of the Sanskrit in the maintenance of the emotional integration of the nation and to conduct special courses of study and to undertake activities therefor; (k) to organise and conduct expositions, exhibitions and extension programmes related to the themes expounded in the Veda- Vedanga literature and other related literature for generating new thoughts and ideology in that context; (l) to provide facilities for studies and research in Indian classical languages; and other classical languages such as Greek, Latin, Avestan, old Persian and also foreign languages such as South Asian languages, English, French, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Tibetan and encourage comparative study of these languages along with Sanskrit; (m) to promote interaction and co-ordination among Sanskrit Pathashalas to make the study of traditional type of Sanskrit teaching-learning more purposeful, and to effect a fusion between traditional and modern systems of Sanskrit education; (n) to establish special chair for the prosecution of studies in the Sanskrit and its literature and allied branches of the knowledge (Vidya Sakha) in Sanskrit; (o) to institute career oriented courses through continuing education, correspondence and distance education; (p) to establish the research centres and discover in the ancient Sanskrit literature, the existence of the principles, ideology which are propounded and contained in the humanities and modern sciences such as Physics, Chemistry, Medical Science, Bio-Medical, Surgical and related subjects and which aim at linking the past with the present and enables the nation to meet the challenges of the future; (q) to prepare and conduct special courses to integrate the Ayurveda with modern medicine, the Vastu Shastra with modern architecture, the Arthashastra with modern economics and political science, the Vyakarana with modern grammer and linguistics; (r) to establish the schools for languages and literature, philosophy, veda-vedanga, Shikshaka-Prashikshana, Dharma Shastra and such other schools as may be declared to be schools under the regulations.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, the University shall exercise the following powers and discharge the following functions, namely:-

(a) to provide for instruction including correspondence courses, teaching and training in such branches of learning and courses of study, as it may think fit; (b) to make provisions for research in Sanskrit, post-graduate courses, conduct special and under-graduate courses, advancement and dissemination of knowledge;

(c) to promote national integration and nourish cultural heritage; (d) to establish, maintain and manage University colleges, schools, departments and institutes of research or specialised studies; (e) to sanction affiliation, recognition and approval to the colleges, institutions and Pathashalas respectively; (f) to withdraw or modify affiliation, recognition, or approval of educational institutions; (g) to organise language laboratories, libraries, museums and other equipments for teaching and to promote research; (h) to institute professorships, readerships, lecturerships and other posts of teachers required by the University; (i) to lay down the courses of instructions for the various examinations; (j) to institute degrees, diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions and titles; (k) to hold examinations or tests and confer degrees and diplomas on, and grant certificates to, persons who – (i) have pursued approved courses of study in the University

or an affiliated colleges, unless exempted there from, in such manner as may be prescribed and have passed the examinations or tests prescribed by the University; or (ii) carry out research on such conditions as may be prescribed; (l) to confer honorary degrees or other academic distinctions in such manner as may be prescribed; (m) to withdraw or cancel any degree, diploma or certificate conferred or granted by the University in such manner as may be prescribed; (n) to associate or admit educational institutions with, or to the privileges of the University by way of affiliation, recognition or approval; (o) to grant such diplomas and certificates to, and to provide such lectures, instructions and training to, persons who are not enrolled as students of the University on such conditions as may be prescribed; (p) to organise and conduct conferences, debates, discussions, seminars, symposia, workshops, refreshers courses and such other programmes at national and international level in furtherance of the objects of the University; (q) to maintain archives, libraries, information centres, data bank, museums and such other institutions which are useful for the furtherance of the objects of the University; (r) to collect, conserve, edit and publish ancient manuscripts, to conserve materials of archaeological values and importance and to reproduce the valuable works of the Sanskrit; (s) to accept donations, grants, gifts, or to borrow money from the Central Government, any State Government or from any individual, association or body corporate: Provided that power to borrow moneys shall be exercised after obtaining previous approval of the State Government; (t) to institute, hold and manage endowments for the promotion of Sanskrit and to give financial and other assistance to deserving institutions or individuals engaged in the dissemination of Sanskrit learning and to institute and award fellowships, scholarships and prizes in accordance with the Regulations for the promotion and propagation of Sanskrit; (u) to give financial and other assistance to institutions or individuals for the publication of literature through printing and electronic media which are conducive to the furtherance of the objects of the University; (v) to inspect colleges, recognised and approved institutions and to take measures to ensure that proper standards of instruction, teaching and training are maintained in them and that adequate library and laboratory provisions are made therein; (w) to lay down and regulate the salary scales, allowances and other conditions of service of the members of the teaching, other academic and non-teaching staff in the affiliated colleges, University colleges and recognised and approved institutions as per the rules of and guideline issued by the University Grants Commission; (x) to control and co-ordinate the activities of and to give financial aid to, University colleges and University Departments; (y) to regulate the fees to be paid by the students in affiliated colleges, recognised and approved institutions; (z) to institute and award fellowship, traveling fellowships, scholarships, studentships, medals, prizes and other awards; (aa) to take disciplinary action against the teachers and students of the University and to impose such punishment upon them as may be deemed fit for the breach of discipline or misconduct, within or outside the University including the use of unfair means at an examination or in relation thereto by themselves or by any other persons or abatement thereof; (bb) to conduct, co-ordinate, supervise, regulate and control post-graduate teachings and research work in the University Departments and affiliated colleges and recognised and approved institutions; (cc) to acquire, hold, manage and dispose of any property movable and immovable, including trust or endowed property within or outside the University and to invest any funds representing such property in such manner as the University thinks fit under the intimation to the State Government; (dd) to institute and manage,− (i) Printing and Publication Department, (ii) Information Bureau, and (iii) Distance Education Department; (ee) to make provisions,- (i) for continuing education, adult education, extra-mural activities, extension services and other recognised educational activities, (ii) for physical education, National Cadet Corps, National Services Scheme, National Sports Organisation and such other recognised activities, and (iii) for yoga, sports, and athletic activities; (ff) to co-operate with other University, authorities or associations or any other public or private bodies in such manner and for such purposes as the University may determine; (gg) to raise public loans on security of the assets of the University for the purposes of the University with the previous approval of the State Government; (hh) to generate resources by frugal and productive utilisation of the University resources; (ii) to organise the projects and programmes for making the Sanskrit languages to be a language of mass for conversation; (jj) to establish within the University area or without the area such field stations, campuses, specialised laboratories and other units for research and instructions and for post- graduate studies in a specialise subjects; (kk) to guide and regulate teaching and research work in University colleges, University Departments and recognised institutions; (ll) to enforce and maintain discipline among the teachers, students, officers and staff and to make necessary arrangements for their welfare; (mm) to fix and collect fees and other charges as may be prescribed by the regulations; (nn) to supervise and control the residence and regulate the conduct and discipline of students of the University and to make arrangements for promoting their health and general welfare and cultural activities; (oo) to do all such other acts and things whether they are incidental to the aforesaid powers and functions or not, as may be necessary in order to further the objects of the University or which may be incidental or ancillary to achieve these objects.

(1) No person shall be excluded from any office of the University or from membership of any of its authorities or from admission to any degree, diploma or other academic distinction or course of study on the sole ground of sex, race, creed, caste, class, place of birth, religious belief, or political or other opinion. (2) It shall not be lawful for the University to impose on any person any test whatsoever relating to sex, race, creed caste, class, place of birth, religious belief or profession or political or other opinion in order to entitle him to be admitted as a teacher or a student or to hold any office or post in the University or to qualify for any degree, diploma or other academic distinction or to enjoy or exercise any privileges of the University or any benefaction thereof.

(1) All teaching works recognised by the University shall be conducted either, - (a) in the University, or (b) in the affiliated colleges, or (c) in the recognised or approved institutions, or (d) such other places or centres which are recognised by the University, where such courses are conducted.

(2) The courses of study and other activities as may be prescribed shall be observed by the University, affiliated colleges, recognised and approved institutions, recognised places or centres.

(1) The Chancellor shall have the right to cause an inspection to be made by such person or persons as he may direct, of the University, its buildings, laboratories, libraries, museums, workshops and equipments of any college or hostel maintained, recognised or approved by, or affiliated to the University, of the teaching and other work conducted by the University and of the conduct of examination held by the University and to cause an inquiry to be made in respect of any matter connected with the University. The Chancellor shall in every case give notice to the University of his intention to cause an inspection or inquiry to be made and the University shall be entitled to be represented thereat.

(2) The Chancellor shall communicate to the Executive Council his views with reference to the results of such inspection or inquiry and shall, after ascertaining the opinion of the Executive Council, advise the University on the action to be taken.

(3) The Executive Council shall report to the Chancellor such action, if any, as it has taken or may propose to take upon the results of the inspection or, inquiry. Such report shall be submitted within such time as the Chancellor may direct.