Sirsa varsity students seek transparency in VC appointments in state varsities

Students of Chaudhary Devi Lal University (CDLU), Sirsa, submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sharma for Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday, demanding transparency, fairness and compliance with University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations in the appointment process for Vice-Chancellors in state universities.

They have expressed concerns over the lack of updates regarding the selection process after the Higher Education Department invited applications for the appointment of Vice-Chancellors in seven government universities on March 4, 2025.

These include CDLU Sirsa, Bhagat Phool Singh Women’s University (Sonepat), Indira Gandhi University (Rewari), Chaudhary Ranbir Singh University (Jind), Dr BR Ambedkar National Law University (Sonepat), Gurugram University and Maharishi Valmiki Sanskrit University (Kaithal).

The deadline for applications was March 15, 2025, and it has been over 15 days, but no information has been provided on the number of applications received, the qualifications and backgrounds of the candidates or the steps being taken to ensure a fair selection process.

The students have stressed the need for a transparent and merit-based selection that follows the UGC regulations, 2018, which were adopted by the Haryana Government in November 2022. They have demanded the government to disclose details about the candidates, including their

academic qualifications, service records, leadership experience and administrative capabilities.

They believe that only those candidates who meet the VC’s eligibility criteria set by the UGC and have at least 10 years of experience as professors should be considered.

Additionally, they have emphasised the importance of selecting individuals with high moral standards, problem solving skills and a strong commitment to the academic community to ensure the universities’ smooth functioning and growth.

Another major issue raised in the memorandum is the financial crisis faced by Haryana’s 22 government universities, which collectively have an outstanding debt of Rs 6,625.82 crore. The students said these universities relied primarily on student fees as their main source of revenue and had no other significant income sources.

They fear that if the government does not provide sufficient financial support, universities might increase tuition fees, making higher education inaccessible for students, particularly those from rural and economically weaker backgrounds.

The students have urged the government to allocate an adequate budget to universities so they can continue to function effectively without financial constraints and focus on promoting higher education, research and innovation.

The memorandum also calls for ensuring fair representation of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the appointment process to promote social justice and inclusivity in higher education.

The students have sent copies of their memorandum to the Governor of Haryana, who serves as the Chancellor of state universities, the Higher Education Minister and the Additional Chief Secretary of the Higher Education Department.