Section 5 in The Netaji Subhas Open University Act, 1997
5. Powers of the University.
(1)The University shall have the following powers, namely:-(i)to provide for instruction in such branches of knowledge, technology, vocations and profession as the University may determine from time to time and to make provision for research;(ii)to plan and prescribe courses of study for degrees, diplomas or certificates, or for any other purpose;(iii)to hold examinations and confer degrees, diplomas, certificates or other academic distinctions or recognitions on persons who have pursued a course of study or conducted research in the manner laid down by Statutes or Ordinances;(iv)to confer honorary degrees or other distinctions in the manner laid down by the Statutes;(v)to determine the manner in which distance education in relation to the academic programme of the University may be organised;(vi)to institute, with the approval of the State Government professorships, readerships, lecturer ships and other academic positions necessary for imparting instruction or for preparing educational material or for conducting other academic activities, including guidance, designing and delivery of course and evaluation of the work done by the students, and to appoint persons to such professorships, readerships, lecturer ships and other academic positions;(vii)to co-operate with, and seek the co-operation of, other universities and institutions of higher learning, professional bodies and organisations for such purposes as the University considers necessary;(viii)to institute and award fellowships, scholarships, prizes and such other awards for recognition of merit as the University may deem fit;(ix)to establish and maintain such Regional Centres as may be determined by the University from time to time;(x)to establish, maintain or recognise Study Centres in the manner laid down by Statutes;(xi)to provide for the preparation of instructional materials, including films, cassettes, tapes, video cassettes and other software's;(xii)to organise and conduct refresher courses, workshops, seminars and other programmes for teachers, lesson writers, evaluators and other academic staff;(xiii)to recognise examinations of, or periods of study (whether in full or part) at, other universities, institutions or other places of higher learning as equivalent to examinations or periods of study in the University, and to withdraw such recognition at any time;(xiv)to make provision for research and development in educational technology and related matters;(xv)to create, with the approval of the State Government, administrative, ministerial and other necessary posts and to make appointments thereto;(xvi)to receive benefactions, donations, and gifts and to acquire, hold, maintain and, with the approval of the State Government dispose of any property, movable or immovable, including trust and Government property, for the purposes of the University;(xvii)to borrow, with the approval of the State Government, whether on the security of the property of the University or otherwise, money for the purposes of the University;(xviii)to enter into, carry out, vary or cancel contracts;(xix)to demand and receive such fees and other charges as may be laid down by the Ordinances;(xx)to provide, control and maintain discipline among the students and all categories of employees and to lay down the conditions of service of such employees, including their codes of conduct;(xxi)to recognise any institution of higher learning or studies for such purposes as the University may determine and to withdraw such recognition;(xxii)to appoint, either on contract or otherwise, visiting Professors, Emeritus Professors, Consultants, fellows, scholars, artists, course writers and such other persons who may contribute to the advancement of the objects of the University;(xxiii)to recognise persons working in other universities, institutions or organisations as teachers of the University on such terms and conditions as may be laid down by Ordinances;(xxiv)to determine standards and to specify conditions for the admission of students to courses of study of the University which may include examination, evaluation and any other method of testing;(xxv)to make arrangements for the promotion of the general health and welfare of the employees;(xxvi)to inspect Regional Centres and Study Centres and to take measures to ensure that proper standards of instructions are maintained therein;(xxvii)to collaborate and interact with the West Bengal State Council of Higher Education constituted under the West Bengal State Council of Higher Education Act, 1994, other universities, specially the Indira Gandhi National Open University, referred to in clause (h) of section 4, and other open universities in the country, and other educational or research institutions and authorities, in such manner and for such purposes as the University may determine.(xxviii)to do all such acts as may be necessary or incidental to the exercise of all or any of the powers of the University as are necessary and conducive to the promotion of all or any of the objects of the University.(2)Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, but without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), it shall be the duty of the University to take all such steps as it may deem fit for the promotion of the open university and distance education systems and for the determination of standards of teaching, evaluation and research in such systems, and for the purpose of performing this function, the University shall have such powers, including the power to allocate and disburse grants to the Regional Centres or the Study Centres, or to any other university or institution of higher learning, as may be specified by the Statutes.
