CNLU Patna gets NAAC downgrade; Registrar says self-study report incorrectly filled

Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna has received the 'B' grade in the latest assessment by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)..Speaking to Bar & Bench on the downgrade, Acting Registrar Manoranjan Prasad Srivastava attributed the same to an incorrectly filled self-study report (SSR) which is required to be submitted by all universities to the NAAC..The SSR, filled in by the faculty at CNLU, acknowledges its shortcomings, including the lack of industrial/corporate collaboration and funding, and the fact that although research centres are established, there is a dearth of research projects taken up. Similarly, it states that although the University has good IT infrastructure, automation is still under process and that the faculty needs training and skill development. "Every institution has some weaknesses, especially when it is in its teens—the growth period. CNLU has entered into fifteenth year of establishment... it lacks Industrial/corporate Collaboration and funding. The University has established centres but research projects are wanting....Although CNLU has good IT infrastructure but Automation is still in process. The number of staff is available but requires training in skill development and documentation. Almost all staff are regular employees, barring few, availing seventh pay commission facilities and other social securities," the report states..With respect to infrastructure at CNLU, the report says that its 18-acre campus is a significant constraint for the development of the University, and that there is no proper waste disposal management of rain water harvesting on campus."The most serious constraint is the Limited space, i.e.18 acres of land which is a constraint/barrier in the expansion programs. The university has no rain harvesting and waste management and water recycling facility," the report further reads..However, the administration stated that such information was not captured accurately. Srivastava said, "The self-study report was not correctly filled by the faculty. We have some shortcomings no doubt, but certain aspects which are present in the college like infrastructure was not correctly captured in the self-study report. We will nonetheless be submitting a revised report next year for the consideration of NAAC.".On the aspect of increasing and improving research projects at the University, he added,"We have started disbursing more funds for research initiatives and they are underway.".This was the second cycle of NAAC accreditation at CNLU, with the University having secured an 'A' grade during the first round of assessment in 2016..[Read Self Study Report here]