The Higher Education Department will withdraw its order restricting Vice-Chancellors of State-run universities from talking to the media.
The order was issued by the then Additional Chief Secretary of the department in July when the Congress–JD(S) government was in power. It had directed the VCs from making any statement before the media which might cause “humiliation” to the government. The department had instead urged university officials to discuss any issue with the government. It had also said that the VCs should function as per the government advice.
Several Vice-Chancellors and academicians had raised objection to the order.
Deputy Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan said he would immediately direct senior officials of the department to withdraw the order. “Vice-Chancellors have the right to speak and give information to the media about the functioning of the universities. Our government will not take away the autonomy of universities or Vice-Chancellors. We will revoke the order to uphold democratic values.”
Many VCs and university officials appreciated Dr. Ashwath Narayan’s move.