Chapter I PRELIMINARY

1. (1) This Act may be called Shri Rukmani Dwarkadhish University of Science and Technology Act, 2024.
2. (2) It shall extend to the whole of the State of Sikkim.
3. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint. Short title, extent and commencement

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, -

1. (a) “Academic Council” means the Academic Council of the University;
2. (b) “Act” means “Shri Rukmani Dwarkadhish University of Science and Technology” Act, 2024;
3. (c) “AIU” means Association of Indian Universities;
4. (d) “Annual report” means the Annual report of the University as referred to in section 46 of the Act;
5. (e) “Authority” means the authority of the University;
6. (f) “Board of Management” means the Board of Management of the University as constituted under Section 21 of the Act;
7. (g) “Campus” means the area of University within which it is established;
8. (h) “Chancellor” means the Chancellor of the University appointed under section 12 of the Act;
   • (i) “DCI” means Dental Council of India;
9. (j) “Dean” means head of a Faculty of the University;
10. (k) “Employee” means an employee appointed by the University and includes teachers and other staff of the University or of a constituent college;
    • (I) “Endowment Fund” means the Endowment Fund of the University established under section 42 of the Act;
11. (m) “Examination Centre” means an examination centre established or recognized by the University for the purposes of conducting examination of full time, part time, online education and external students registered with the University;
12. (n) “Faculty” means a faculty of the University;
13. (o) “Fee” means collection of money made by the University from students for the purpose of any course of study and incidental thereto, in the University;
14. (p) “Finance Committee” means the Finance Committee of the University;
15. (q) “General Fund” means a General Fund of the University established under section 43 of the Act;
16. (r) “Governing Body” means the Governing Body of the University constituted under section 20 of the Act; “ICAR” means the Indian Council of Agricultural Research a trust registered under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882;
17. (t) “INC” means the Indian Nursing Council;
18. (u) “Internship” means on-job training, apprenticeship or a professional training of students with academic studies;
    • (v) “Internship Campus” means a centre established, maintained or recognized by the University for the purpose of Internship and Training or for rendering any other assistance including conducting contact classes and administering examinations required by the students;
19. (w) “National Assessment and Accreditation Council” means National Assessment and Accreditation Council, Bengaluru, an autonomous institution of the University Grants Commission;
    • (x) “NMC” means the National Medical Commission;
20. (y) “NCTE” means the National Council for Teacher Education;
21. (z) “Notification” meansthe notification published in the Official Gazette;
22. (aa) “Off-Campus” means a campus of a University established by it outside the main campus (within the state) operated and maintained as its constituent unit, having the University’s complement of facilities, faculty and staff;
23. (bb) “Official Gazette” means the Official Gazette of Sikkim;
24. (cc) “PCI” means Pharmacy Council of India;
25. (dd) “Prescribed” means prescribed by the Statutes, Ordinances, Regulations or the Rules made under this Act;
26. (ee) “Principal”, means the Head of the constituent college and includes, where there is no Principal, the Vice-Principal or any other person for the time being as appointed to act as Principal;
27. (ff) “Regional Centre” means a centre established or maintained by the University for the purpose of coordinating and supervising the work of study centre in any region within the State and for performing such other functions as may be conferred on such centre by the Board of Management;
28. (gg) “Registrar” means the Registrar of the University appointed under section 14 of the Act;
29. (hh) “Sponsoring Body” in relation to this Act means the Manudiaz Education Foundation, Punjab;
    • (ii) “Skill Centre” means a skill centre which provides skill development and vocational education programs to students, youth and other stakeholders;
30. (jj) “State” means the State of Sikkim;
31. (kk) “State Government” means the State Government of Sikkim;
32. (ll) “Statutes”, “Ordinances” and the “Regulations” means respectively, the Statutes, Ordinance and Regulations of the University made by it under this Act;
33. (mm) “Study Centre” means a centre established, maintained or recognized by the university for the purpose of advising, counselling or for rendering any other assistance including training, conducting contact classes and administering examinations required by the students;
34. (nn) “Teachers” means a Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor/Lecturer or such other person as may be appointed for imparting instruction or conducting research in the University or in a constituent college or institution and includes the Principal of a constituent college or institution, in conformity with the norms prescribed by the University Grants Commission;
35. (oo) “UGC” means the University Grants Commission established under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956;
36. (pp) “University” means the Shri Rukmani Dwarkadhish University of Science and Technology established under this Act, within the meaning of University Grants Commission Act, 1956;
37. (qq) “Vice-Chancellor” means the Vice- Chancellor of the University appointed under section 13 of the Act;
38. (rr) “Vocational Education” means such education that prepares a person to work as a technician in a trade, craft, or in support role in professions such as Engineering, Accountancy, Nursing, Medicine, Architecture, Law, etc.