The Prevention of Corruption Act covers deemed universities too: SC

The supreme court in a hearing stated that corruption and bribery of deemed universities can be tried under PCA (Prevention of Corruption Act). Individuals, officials and authorities connected to the deemed universities come under the ambit of the definition ‘public servant’. They can be tired and punished under the PCA, said the court.

In Section 2(c) (xi) of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988, The term ‘university’ also refers to deemed universities. Under the University Grants Commission, a deemed university has the common duty like a university to grant academic degrees recognized in the society.
A bench of three judges led by Justice N.V. Ramana declared in a judgment on 27th April that authorities of deemed university though not thought of as public servant in the conventional sense, perform duties which the public and society have hugely interested in.

The purpose of the PCA was to prevent the evil of bribery and corruption as well as to make it applicable to the people who are not conventionally a part of public servants. The Act also monitors those who perform public duties as well said Justice Ramana.
Justice Ajay Rastogi stated that the provisions of the Act concern everyone who directly or indirectly actively manages the affairs of the university in any manner.

The judgment was delivered on an appeal filed by the Gujarat Government against a trustee of Sumandeep Charitable Trust, which established and sponsors Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, a deemed university. A case was filed by the state police for allegedly demanding 20 lakhs from a parent of a medical student to take her final exam. The Gujarat High Court had discharged the trustee.

The Supreme Court set aside the judgment by the High Court and ordered the trial to be completed.