Why is there an uproar over the new draft of UGC? Protest started on the rules of Vice Chancellor and teacher recruitment

A week ago, on January 6, UGC issued draft regulations regarding the recruitment of Vice Chancellors, teachers and academic staff in universities and colleges, over which controversy is increasing. The controversy has now also taken a political form. While the main opposition party Congress has raised questions on the intentions of the Central Government, the Tamil Nadu Government has termed the UGC Regulation 2025 against the Constitution and the basic principle of federalism.

The biggest controversy is emerging regarding the appointment of Vice Chancellor. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Regarding the resolution passed in the Assembly, Stalin said that the new rules of UGC empower the Governors in the appointment of Vice Chancellors, which will ruin the universities. he/she has even said that if the Central Government does not change its mind even after this proposal, then the Tamil Nadu government will approach the court.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) said in a statement that this rule is a ‘direct attack’ on the rights of the state government. The CPI(M) says the UGC guidelines empower the Governor to appoint a three-member selection committee and the chairman will also be nominated by him/her.

A member of a teachers organization in DU says that the rule of ten years has been kept in force for professors to become VC, but a new system has been added that people from industry, public administration, public policy and public sector undertaking should also be eligible. Can be appointed VC.

Teachers protest:

Dr. Richa Raj, former member of the Academic Council in DU, says that in this way, complete freedom is being given for arbitrariness in the appointment of VC. The eligibility criteria for teacher appointment have been weakened. he/she says that accepting graduation and PhD as minimum eligibility will drastically reduce the quality of teaching at PG level, especially in social sciences and science streams. Dr. Raj says that the condition of appointing 10% teachers on contract has also been removed and the university has been given the freedom to hire a large number of contract teachers.

Congress and BJP face to face:

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge raised questions on DOFT regulations and said that India’s higher education is being attacked. Governors have been given broad control over Vice Chancellor appointments and efforts are being made to allow non-academic people to hold these posts. he/she made a post saying that earlier UGC was providing financial assistance to universities, the government used to provide funds to UGC. But big cuts are being made in the budget of UGC.

Education Minister’s answer:

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan then responded by saying that the mentality of the Congress, which has kept the country’s education system in a bad and corrupt state for decades, is still the same. he/she said that whether it is UGC Regulations 2010, 2018 or UGC Regulations 2025, it is clear in all that the Chancellor and the Visitor appoint the VC.
As far as the discharge of the responsibilities of the Vice-Chancellor by the Governors is concerned, this is a practice which has been going on even before the independence of the country. he/she said that the selection committee structure of UGC Regulations 2025 is actually the format of UGC Regulations 2010.

Controversy may increase:

In states like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, the elected governments were already having disputes with the Governors on many issues and now this dispute may further intensify through the UGC draft. The Tamil Nadu government has even said that it will not allow the UGC rules to be implemented. Now political controversy on the issue of draft is also sure to increase.
The appointment of Vice Chancellor in state universities is a big issue and in the past too, there have been controversies at many places regarding the appointment of Vice Chancellor in state universities without the consent of the Chief Minister.