The Banaras Hindu University Act, 1915

(1) This Act may be called the 1[Banaras] Hindu UniversityAct, 1915. (2) It shall come into force on such date2as the Central Government may, by notification in theOfficial Gazette, direct.

1[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 infantschool or pathasala) 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 aFaculty of, or in a college maintained by, the University and includes any other person who isdeclared to be a teacher by the Academic Council; (j) "University" means the Banaras Hindu University.]

4[(1) The Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor and the members of the Court, theExecutive Council and the Academic Council, for the time being shall be a body corporate by the name ofthe Banaras Hindu University.] (2) The University shall have perpetual succession and a common seal, and shall sue, and be sued, bythe name first aforesaid. 5* * * * *

1[4. University open to all classes, castes and creeds.--The University shall be open to persons ofeither sex and of whatever race, creed, caste or class, and it shall not be lawful for the University to adoptor impose on any person any test whatsoever of religious belief or profession in order to entitle him to beadmitted therein, as a teacher or student, or to hold any office therein, or to graduate thereat, or to enjoy orexercise any privilege thereof, except in respect of any particular benefaction accepted by the University,where such test is made a condition thereof by any testamentary, or other instrument creating suchbenefaction: Provided that nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent religious instruction being given inthe manner prescribed by the Ordinances 2[to those who, or, in the case of minors, whose parents orguardians have given their consent thereto in writing].]

1[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 tomake provision for research and for the advancement and dissemination of knowledge; 2[(2) to promote the study of religion, literature, history, science and art ofVedic, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Islamic, Sikh, Christian, Zoroastrian and other civilisations andcultures; (3) to hold examinations and to grant diplomas and certificates, and confer degreesand other academic distinctions to and on persons-- (a) who shall have pursued a course of study in the University or in a college and passed theexamination or who shall have carried on research work in the manner prescribed bythe Ordinances, or (b) who are teachers of the University or any college under conditions laid down in theStatutes or the Ordinances and shall have passed the examinations of the University under likeconditions, or (c) who, being women, shall have pursued a course of private study in subjects provided forby the Ordinances and shall have passed the examinations of the University in their subjectsunder conditions laid down in the Ordinances;] (4) to confer honorary degrees or other distinctions in the manner laid down in the Statutes; (5) to grant such diplomas 3[or certificates] to, and to provide such lectures and instruction for,persons not being members of the University as the University may determine; 3[(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 asthe University may determine; (7) to institute professorships, readerships, lectureships and other teaching posts required by theUniversity and to appoint persons to such professorships, readerships and lectureships and otherposts; (8) to institute and award fellowships (including travelling fellowships), scholarships,studentships, exhibitions and prizes in accordance with the Statutes and the Ordinances; (9) to institute and maintain halls and hostels and to recognise places of residence for students ofthe University; 4[(9A) to institute, establish, maintain, reconstitute, amalgamate, divide or abolish departments,faculties or colleges and carry out inspection thereof and inquiry in relation 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 theUniversity, and to make arrangements for promoting their health 4[and welfare]. (12) to make special arrangements in respect of the residence, discipline, and teaching of womenstudents; 4[(12A) to regulate and enforce discipline among salaried officers, teachers and other employeesof the University in accordance with the Statutes and Ordinances;] (13) to create administrative, ministerial and other necessary posts and to make appointmentsthereto; 5*** 4[(13A) to acquire, hold, manage and dispose of property, movable or immovable, including trustor endowed property, for the purposes of the University; (13B) with the approval of the Central Government, to borrow on the security of the property ofthe 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 maybe requisite in order to further the objects of the University.]