Chennai: The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry, which has recommended that 44 of the worst universities be stripped of their special status, over 40 deemed universities nationwide, including 13 in Maharashtra and 11 in Tamil Nadu, were found to be "wanting" in certain aspects by the same panel.

The Supreme Court is likely to hear the case based on Tandon committee's report today again.

The panel's findings are likely to be keenly contested by the managements of private educational institutions.

The committee's report has classified three categories for the 126 deemed universities, where Table I comprises of 38 good institutions, Table II has 44 institutions which need to work upon certain requirements and lastly Table III lists another 44 institutions whose status is sought to be withdrawn.

The second category includes eminent private and government-funded bodies like National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) in Delhi, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology in Kerala, Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management in Gwalior and Institute of Liver and Biliary Science in Delhi

"These universities, in order to continue with their deemed status, would require to rectify the deficiencies over a three-year period to transit into the first category (of good institutions)," said the panel's recommendation report.

"We have placed these institutions in Table II as we feel that these institutions have a scope to improve and ascend to Table I. These intuitions need to take comprehensive steps urgently in respect of several parameters. To justify their continuation, they must undergo a rigorous independent review after three years," the committee said.

But, criticism already awaits the panel's report as they did not carry out a physical inspection of the facilities in any of the colleges.