HP, other non-BJP ruled states to oppose draft UGC regulations

The Congress-ruled states and a couple of other non BJP-ruled states have decided to oppose the Draft University Grant Commission (UGC) regulations “tooth and nail” and get it legally examined to force the UGC withdraw it.

“The draft is a direct assault on our federal structure and autonomy of the states. We will not take it lying down and get it legally examined,” said Education Minister Rohit Thakur, who attended the conclave of education ministers of six states in Bengaluru on Wednesday to discuss various provisions of the draft that was released by the UGC last month. Education Minister from six states of Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Jharkhand participated in the conclave. “We all agreed to get the draft legally examined. Also, we will next meet in Kerala on February 20 to decide our future course of action,” said Rohit Thakur.

Alleging that the draft has been prepared on the directions of the Central government, Thakur said the objective of the draft was to negate the role of state governments in higher education. “The infrastructure is built by the states, the responsibility is shouldered by the states but the Centre wants to frame all rules through UGC,” alleged Thakur.

“The draft interferes to the extent of appointment of assistant professors at the college level, impinging on the autonomy of the state. Having a subject on the concurrent list does not mean that Centre can impose itself on the states,” said Thakur. The Education Minister further said that other states, too, would join them in opposing the draft that impinges on the legitimate rights of the state.

One of the major resolutions passed in the conclave was to give the state governments a “pivotal role” in the appointment of Vice- Chancellors of state public universities.

“The draft does not leave any role for the state government in the appointment of Vice-Chancellors, and that can’t be accepted at all,” said Thakur. Incidentally, the post of Vice-Chancellor at Himachal Pradesh University is vacant for over two-and-a-half years now. The search committee has interviewed the candidates long back, but it’s still not clear when will the university get a regular Vice Chancellor.