THE BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY ACT,
 ACT NO. XVI OF 1915

as amended by Act No. III of 1922 Act No. XXIX of 1930, Act No. LV of 1951, Act No. 34 of 1985 , Act No. 52 of 1966 & Act No, 34 of 1969.

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH AND INCORPORATE A TEACHING AND RESIDENTIAL, HINDU UNIVERSITY AT BANARAS

WHEREAS it is expedient to establish and incorporate a teaching and residential Hindu University at Banaras, and to dissolve the Hindu University Society, a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and to transfer to and vest in, the said University all property and rights now vested in the said Society; it is hereby enacted as follows :-

1. Short title and commencement

(1) This Act may be called the Banaras Hindu Short title and University Act, 1915.

(2) It shaft come into force on such date as the Governor- General in Council may, by notification in the 'Gazette of India, direct.

Act No. XVI of 1915 received the assent of the Governor General on the 1st October 1915. It came into force on the 1st April, 1916 Notification No. 225 dated the 23rd March 1916 published in the Gazette of India, dated the 25th March, 1916, Part I, page 352, Act No. III of 1922 received the assent of the Governor-General on the 9th February 1922, and Act No. XXIX of 1930 received the assent of the Governor-General on the 25th July, 1930.

Act. No. LV of 1951 received the assent of the President on the 20th October 1951, Published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, dated the 22nd October, 1951, Part II Section I.

Sections 15 and 16 of the Banaras Hindu University (Amendment) Act. (1951) came into force on,the 20th October 1951. Remaining the Act came into force 'on the 3rd November 1951. Section I, of the Gazette of India, November 3rd, 1951. Government of India, Ministry of Education Notification No. F.27-1/51-G 3 dated New Delhi, the 3rd November, 1951.

The Banaras Hindu University (Amendment) Act, 1958 received the assent of the President on September 20, 1958 and was published in Extraordinary Gazette of India, Part II Section I dated 22nd Sept., 1958. It came into force from 14th June, 1958.

The B. H.U.(Amendment) Act 1969 received the assent of the President on December 22, 1966 and was published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary Part II Section I dated the 23rd December, 1966. It came into force from December 31, 1966.

The B.H.U. (Amendment) Act 1969 received the assent of the President on the 31st August 1969 and was Published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary Part II Section I dated 31 August,1969. It came in to force from September 5, 1969. provisions of published in Part 3rd 1951.

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2. Definitions.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires--

(a) "Academic Council"- means the Academic Council of the University;

(b) "College" means a college or teaching institution (other than a secondary, primary or infant school or pathshala) maintained by or admitted to the privileges of the University ;

(c) "Court" means the University Court;

(d) "Executive Council" means the University Executive Council;

(e) "Faculty" means a Faculty of the University;

(f) "Ordinances" means the Ordinances of the University for the time being in force;

(g) "Regulations" means the Regulations of the University for the time being in force ;

(h) "Statutes" means the Statutes of the University for the time being in force;

(i) "teacher" means a salaried professor, reader, lecturer or tutor who imparts instruction in a Faculty of, or in a college maintained by the University and includes any other person who is declared to be a teacher by the Academic Council;

(j) "University" means the Banaras Hindu University.

3. Incorporation

(1) The Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor and the members of the Court, the Executive Council and the Academic Council, for the time being, shall be a body corporate by the name of the Banaras Hindu University.

(2) The University shall have perpetual succession and a common seal, and shall sue, and be sued, by the name first aforesaid.

4. University open to all races, creed Castes or Classes.

The University shall be open to persons of either sex and of whatever race, Creed, caste or class, and it shall not be lawful for the University to adopt or impose on any person any test whatsoever of religious belief or profession in order to entitle him to be admitted therein, as a teacher or student, or to hold

ACT XVI OF 1915 3

any office therein, or to graduate there at, or to enjoy or exercise any privilege there of, except in respect of any particular benefac- tion accepted by the University, where such a test is made a condition thereof by any testamentary or other instrument creating such benefaction;

Provided that nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent religious instruction being given in the manner prescribed by the Ordinances to those who, or, in the case of minors, whose parents or guardians have given their consent thereto in writing

4A. Powers of the University.

The University shall have the following powers namely :-

(1) to provide for instruction in such branches of learning as the University may think fit, and to make provision for research and for the advancement and dissemination of knowledge ;

(2) to promote the study of religion, literature, history, science and art of Vedic, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Islamic, Sikh, Christian, Zoroastrian, and other civilisations and, cultures ;

(3) to hold examinations and to grant diplomas and certificates, and confer degrees and other academic distinctions to and on persons-

(a) who shall have pursued a course of study in the University or in college and passed the examination or who shall eve carried on research work in the manner prescribed by the Ordinances, or

(b) who are a teachers of the University or any College under conditions laid down in the Statutes or the Ordinances and' shall have passed the examinations of the University under like conditions, or

(e) who being women,shall have pursued a course of private study in subjects provided for by the Ordinances and shall have passed the examinations of the University in their subjects under conditions laid down in the Ordinances ,

(4) to confer honorary degrees or other distinctions in the manner laid down in the Statutes;

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(5) to grant such diplomas or certificates to, and to, provide such lectures and-instruction for, persons not being members. of the-University, as the University may determine;

(5A) to withdraw degrees, diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions;

(6) to co-operate with, Other Universities and authorities in such manner and for such purposes as the University may determine;

(7) to institute professorships, readerships, lectureships and other teaching posts required by the University and to appoint persons to such professorships, readerships, lectureships and other posts;

(8) to institute and award fellowships (including traveling fellowships), scholarships, studentship, exhibitions and prizes in accordance with the Statutes and the Ordinances ;

(9) to institute and maintains Halls and hostels and to recognise places of residence for students of the University;

(9A) to institute, establish, maintains, reconstitute amalgamate, divide or abolish departments, faculties or colleges and carry out inspection thereof and inquiry in relations thereto;

(10) to demand and. receive such fees and other charges as may be prescribed by the Ordinances ;

(11) to supervise and control the residence and to regulate the discipline of students of the University, and to make arrangements for promoting their health and welfare;

(12) to make special arrangements in respect of the residence, discipline and teaching of women students;

(12A) to regulate and enforce' discipline among salaried officers, teachers and other employees of the University in accordance with the statutes and ordinances;

(13) to create administrative, ministerial and other necessary posts and to make appointments thereto;

(13A) to acquire, hold, manage and dispose of property, movable or immovable, including trust or

ACT XVI OF 1915

endowed property, for the purposes of the University;

(13B) With the approval of the Central Government, to borrow on the security of the property of the University money for the Purpose of the university;

(14) to do all such other acts and things, whether incidental to the powers aforesaid or not, as may be requisite in order to further the objects of the University.

5. Visitor

(1) The President of India shall be the Visitor of the University.

(2) The Visitor 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 and equipment of any Colleges and of any Institution maintained by the University and also of the examinations, teaching and other work conducted or done by the University and to cause an enquiry to be made in like manner in respect of any matter connected with the University.

(3) The Visitor shall in every case give notice to the University of his intention to ease an inspection or inquiry to be made, and the University shall be entitled to appoint a representative who shall have the right to be present and be heard at such inspection or inquiry.

(4) The Visitor may address the Vice-Chancellor with reference to the result of such inspection and inquiry, and the Vice-Chancellor communicate to the Executive Council the views of the Visitor with such advice, as the Visitor may offer upon the action to

(5)The executive council shall communicate through the Vice-Chancellor to the Visitor such action, if any, as it is proposed to take or has been taken upon the result of such inspection or inquiry.

(6) Where the Executive. Council does not within a reasonable time, take action to the satisfaction of the Visitor, the Visitor may, after considering

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any explanation furnished or representation made by the Executive Council, issue such directions as he may think fit and the Executive Council shall be bound to comply with such directions.

(7) without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this Section the Visitor may, by order in writing, annual any proceeding of the University which is. not in conformity with this Act,' the Statutes or the Ordinances

Provided that before making any such order, he shall call upon the University to show cause why such an order should not be made and if any cause is shown within a, reasonable time shall consider the same.

6. Officers of the University.

The following shall be the officers. of the University, namely :-

(a) The Chancellor

(b) The Vice-Chancellor

(c) The Rector

(d) The Registrar

(e) The Finance Officer

(f) The Deans of Faculties

(g) The Dean of Students

(n) The Librarian

(i) The Chief Proctor

(j) such other persons, in the service of the University may be declared by the Statutes, to be the officers of the University.

7. Chancellor.

(1) The Chancellor shall be elected by the Court and shall hold office for a term of three years :

Provided that the Chancellor shall, notwithstanding the expirations of his term, continue to hold his office until the election of his successor.

(2) If the office of the Chancellor becomes vacant, the functions of his office shall, until some person is elected under sub-section (1) to the vacant office, be performed by the Vice-Chancellor.

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7A. Powers of Chancellor.

(2) The Chancellor shall, by virtue of his office, be the Head of the University.

(3) The Chancellor shall, if present, preside at convocation of the University for conferring degrees and at all meetings of the Court.

7B. Vice-Chancellor.

(1) The Vice-Chancellor shall be appointed by the Visitor on the recommendation of a Selection Committee constituted by the Visitor for the purpose :

provided that, if the Visitor does not approve of such recommendation, he may call for one or more fresh recommendations.

(2) The Vice-Chancellor shall be a whole-time salaried officer of the University.

(3) The Vice-Chancellor shall hold office for a term of three years from the date on which he enters upon his office and shall, on the expiration of his term of office be eligible for reappointment to that office for a Second term.

Provided that the Vice-Chancellor shall, not- withstanding the expiration of his term, continue to hold his office until his successor is appointed and enters upon his office.

(4) The emoluments and other terms and conditions of service of the Vice-Chancellor shall be prescribed by the Statutes.

(5) If the office of the Vice-Chancellor becomes vacant the functions of his office shall, until some person is appointed under sub section (1) to the vacant office, be performed by the Rector :

Provided that if them Is no Rector the Registrar shall carry on the current dudes" of the Vice-Chancellor and call a meeting of the Executive Council for with and take its directions for the carrying on of the work of the University.

7B. Powers and duties of Vice-Chancellor.

(1) The Vice- Chancellor who shall be the principal Executive and academic officer of the University shall take rank next to the Chancellor and shall exercise general supervision and control over

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the affairs of the University and give effect to the decisions of authorities.

(2) The vice-Chancellor shall be the ex-officio Chairman of the Executive Council, Academic Council, and the Finance Committee and shall, in the absence of the Chancellor, preside at any invocation of the University for conferring degrees and also at any meeting of the Court; he shall be entitled to be present at and to address any meeting of any authority or board or a committee of the University but shall not be entitled to vote there at unless he is a member of such authority or board or committee.

(3) It shall be the duty of the Vice-Chancellor to see that the provisions of this Act, the Statutes. the Ordinances and the Regulations are duly, observed.

(4) The Vice-Chancellor shall have power, convene meetings, of the Court, the Executive Council and the Academic Council and shall perform all such acts as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, the Statutes and the Ordinances.

(5) If, in the opinion of the Vice-Chancellor, any emergency has arisen which requires immediate action to be taken, the Vice-Chancellor shall take such action as he. deems necessary and shall report the same for approval at the next meeting to the authority which, in the ordinary course, would have dealt with the matter :

Provided that, if the action taken by the Vice- Chancellor is not approved by the authority concerned, he may refer the matter to the Visitor, Whose decision thereon be final :

Provided further that, where any such action taken by the Vice-Chancellor affect any person in the service of the University, such person shall be entitled to prefer, within thirty days from the date on which he receives native of such action, an appeal to the Executive Council.