The University Grants Commission is attempting to undemocratise the university system, said the Aided College Teachers Association with its new draft proposals.
The members said the UGC’s draft proposals on appointment of Vice-Chancellors, released 10 days ago gives broader control to the Governor in constituting the search panel. The selection of non-academics to the hitherto post held by academicians could be dangerous, they said. The new rules, if adopted, may further escalate the friction between the government and the Governor and worsen the academic and administrative condition in the universities, they fear.
Non-academicians from the commercialised corporate sector may not have the sense of social concern that those in the public sector cannot ignore, they say. “The recent directions from the UGC that colleges that do not adopt the National Education Policy could face disaffiliation from universities,” has already caused mental agony, said S. Sahaya Sathish, association general secretary.
The Commission’s “self-assumed, arbitrary authority over state higher educational institutions is violative of constitutional federal arrangement,” he said.
Under the new norms the Governor’s nominees would outnumber the nominees of the State government and the managements of private institutions in all selection committees, “thus grievously crippling legitimate owners’ rights”, he claimed.
The association aims to launch direct action programmes with other teacher organisations against what it termed “draconian policy of the UGC and the Union government.”
Published - January 15, 2025 07:51 pm IST
