MUMBAI, July 20 -- The state higher and technical education department has decided not to permit any new private universities until a review of existing institutions is completed, following complaints from students and parents and pending court cases. In April, the government constituted a four-member committee headed by former University Grants Commission (UGC) chairperson Prof. Bhushan Patwardhan to examine the functioning of private universities. Senior officials said the committee's mandate will now be expanded to review the state's policy governing private universities and recommend changes. There are currently 34 private universities in the state. Officials said complaints regarding their functioning have risen steadily, with concerns centred on accountability, fee structures, recruitment, and regulatory compliance. About a year ago, the government sought detailed information from private universities to assess their functioning. However, many institutions failed to furnish the required details, officials said. "Only a few universities appear to be functioning with genuine academic objectives. Preliminary information received from several institutions indicates discrepancies in management practices, faculty recruitment and regulatory compliance," an official said. The department has, therefore, decided not to issue any government resolution for setting up new private universities until the Patwardhan committee submits its final report....