Policy changes are not random acts of whims and fancies of those in power. The Haryana government would have done due deliberation before arriving at its decision to assume the control of key appointments in the state universities. That said, the stiff opposition within campuses and by some Opposition lawmakers to the move is not devoid of merit. The letter to the Vice Chancellors, to send requisitions to the Haryana Public Service Commission for appointing assistant professors and Group B officials, indicates a dilution of the powers of recruitment. The autonomy of institutions of higher education will get undermined; it’s an unhealthy practice that does more harm than any help in the long run.

On the political front, the BJP-led government, as expected, has been accused of trying to control academic institutions and impose the party ideology. On the academic front, the unions view it as an attack on the autonomy by trying to wrest control of appointments, which they claim is a violation of the University Grants Commission guidelines. For the government, if the motivation behind the decision is to set the house in order and bring transparency, the route adopted may not be the desired one. State funding does not equal state control. Issues of merit being compromised and back-door entry are better served with further layers of checks, sound accountability and strict adherence to rules. Added responsibility, and not detention is what is required.

Assuming tasks with little domain knowledge and rewriting the rules of engagement, at times, only muddle the process instead of refining it. A rethink is called for. For those protesting against the government decision, it is time for serious introspection. Autonomy carries with it huge responsibility and adoption of best practices. Clearly, that is not happening in the state universities. Something is not right and needs fixing. Acrimony is no answer, self-correction is.