India, Nov. 26 -- The Supreme Court has placed the entire ecosystem of private and deemed universities across India under judicial scrutiny, demanding exhaustive disclosures from the Centre and state governments on the circumstances of their creation, the benefits extended to them, and the regulatory frameworks meant to ensure they adhere to a 'no profit-no loss' mandate if they position themselves as such institutions.

A bench of justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and NV Anjaria said that "in the larger public interest" it found it appropriate to examine aspects relating to the "creation/establishment/setting-up of all private Universities, either under the state governments/UTs or the central government, and connected concerns."

The court ...