Key NDA ally Janata Dal (United) expressed reservations over the new University Grants Commission (UGC) draft regulations that give a bigger role to the chancellors, who in most cases are State Governors, in appointing Vice-Chancellors of State universities, arguing that it will impact the State’s own road map for higher education.
Janata Dal (United) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, speaking to The Hindu, said that limiting a State’s role in these appointments will be a roadblock in State government efforts to draft a road map for higher education. “We have not read the draft resolution of UGC entirely, but from whatever is being reported so far, we do have a concern about limiting the role of elected governments in appointment of Vice-Chancellors. This will impact the State government’s road map for higher education,” Mr. Prasad said.
However, Mr. Prasad, refused to comment on whether the JD(U) has reached out to the BJP on the issue. However, he agreed that the government should consider introducing amendments.
Several non-BJP State governments have criticised the move. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday (January 20, 2025) said that several provisions in the draft UGC regulations were “in conflict with the State’s educational system and policies” and urged Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to withdraw these regulations.
The Kerala Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution urging the Union government to withdraw the University Grants Commission’s draft regulations that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said was against federal principles.
The BJP and the Union government have been justifying the UGC draft guidelines on faculty appointments. Union Education Minister Pradhan, countering the Opposition’s charges, had said that the present regulations are in the same format as that of the UGC regulations of 2010 on appointing Vice-Chancellors. He added that there is no change in the selection process and number of members in the selection panel.
