The order to demolish 38 out of 40 buildings of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh has raised serious questions. The students protested the proposed demolition and were joined by the opposition parties, which have alleged that the BJP government is targeting the university as part of a vendetta politics. India’s education sector suffers from both a quality and quantity deficit. Shortage of faculty — about 29 per cent in central universities and 40 per cent in state public universities — and low research output continue to plague public universities. From land acquisition to municipal permits, a maze of red tape stands in the way of letting competition flourish in the sector.