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The UDF alleged that the new draft rules of the UGC give excessive power to the chancellor in the appointment of vice-chancellors.
The UDF urged the Kerala Assembly to adopt a resolution protesting the new draft rules of the UGC for the appointment of VCs and faculty. (symbolic image)
The opposition Congress-led UDF on Saturday urged the Kerala Assembly to adopt a resolution opposing the new draft rules proposed by the UGC regarding the appointment of vice-chancellors, faculty and academic staff in universities.
Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan sent a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan saying the draft rules were introduced by the UGC to “misuse” independently functioning universities for political interests.
The new amendments themselves have made it clear that vice-chancellors cannot be selected freely and impartially, he said in the letter.
In the letter, Satheesan urged the state government to consider an alternative method for the selection of vice-chancellors in strong opposition to any action that would negatively impact the higher education sector.
He pointed out that the new norms also make the Chancellor the sole authority with respect to the selection of the search committee for the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor.
“There is no doubt that giving too much power to the Chancellor in constituting the search committee will lead to the appointment of representatives of the BJP government as VCs in Kerala universities,” Satheesan alleged.
He said this would deepen the existing crisis in the higher education sector and stressed that there is a duty to strongly oppose any action that harms the sector.
“In this situation, it would be appropriate that the Assembly passes a resolution against the draft rules of the UGC,” Satheesan said in the letter.
The draft of the UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025 was released on January 6.
According to the Union Education Ministry, the draft guidelines are aimed at providing flexibility to universities in the appointment and promotion of teachers and academic staff in their institutions.
(This story has not been edited by AyraNews24x7 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI,
- Place :
Thiruvananthapuram, India
