Chandigarh, January 12, 2025 (Yes Punjab News)
Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the University Grants Commission (UGC) draft regulations on appointments of vice chancellors were against the spirit of federalism and were aimed at usurping the rights of the States and handing them over to the central government.
Asserting that the draft regulations were tantamount to nationalising Indian universities, the SAD leader said “this seeks to usurp the powers of the States who founded these Universities out of their funds and are running them with their own resources”.
Calling for the immediate withdrawal of the draft regulations, Mr Sukhbir Badal said “it seems the States – who are the main stakeholders, have not been consulted while framing the draft regulations. Instead of giving increased autonomy to the States, the centre has chosen to take away control of the Universities and vest it with the UGC whose members are appointed by it”.
Mr Badal said there was already much opposition by States to the insistence of several State Governors to influence the appointment of vice chancellors by refusing to go with the constitutional norm of acting on the “aid and advice” of the State governments while making top appointments.
He said now the entire process of appointment of vice chancellors had been handed over to the Governors who would select any name from a list submitted to them by a three member committee of the Chancellor, UGC and the apex management body of the varsity. “The State government has been left out of any say in the selection process”, he added.
Mr Badal said besides usurping the rights of the State, the central government was also overlooking the heritage and culture of State institutions which was addressed by elected State governments while making appointments to their top posts. “This draft regulation needs to be done away with immediately.
The UGC and the central government need to understand the need to allow autonomy to State institutions. The SAD demands the regulations be withdrawn and all appointments to vice chancellors in States be made as per the advice of respective governments. EOM
