The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Centre on a petition challenging the validity of the law conferring power on the Central government and the University Grants Commission to grant deemed university status to an institute.<br/><br/>The PIL on the issue assumes importance as it has come at a time when the government was held back by the apex court from going ahead with its move to de-recognise 44 deemed universities.<br/><br/>A Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justices V S Sirpurakar and Deepak Verma sought a response from the Centre and UGC on the contention that the power conferred on the executive for granting deemed university status to educational institutions are violative of the Constitution.