Soon, Kalam Technological University will have its own statutes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) would soon get a small reprieve from a sea of nagging problems that has clipped its wings. Five years after its inception in 2014, the varsity act would soon have its subordinate legislation, statutes, cleared by the state government.
Owing to lack of statutes, all academic as well as administrative bodies functioning in the university are nominated ones. The university, for long, has been facing criticism for not having established a democratic framework for dealing with important affairs.
The higher education department is currently holding a series of interactions with stakeholders, eliciting their opinion about the draft rules prepared and circulated by the government.
Criticisms have not died down though. "The very structure of the university - both academic and administrative -is not democratic. It's a vice-chancellor-centric structure. It is said that IIT model is being followed. But it would only help create lack of transparency. For example, the post of registrar has been stripped off real powers. There is no administrative role defined for joint or assistant registrars. The move to include 'deans' selected for a four-year term, in the university syndicate is unacceptable," said university employees' representatives.
The higher education department, however, refuted the claims about the university being VC centric. "The government will look into genuine points by stakeholders. The statutes would pave way for varsity turning into an independent one," said higher education principal secretary Usha Titus.
The draft is silent on mode of selection and qualifications of VC. Sources in the government said such finer details need not be included in the statute. "UGC regulations are applicable for the appointment, which can't be flouted,"sources said.