THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government is planning to promulgate an ordinance to strip the chancellor (governor) of his role in the appointment of vice-chancellors to various state universities, Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) — a whistleblowers’ collective in the higher education sector — has alleged.
As per the UGC regulations, the chancellor shall make the appointment of the vice-chancellor from a panel of eminent academics proposed by the search-cum-select committee. The committee is constituted by the chancellor and it includes nominees of the chancellor, the University Grants Commission and the concerned university.
In a petition to Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, SUCC said the proposed ordinance aims to modify the University Acts to empower the government to recommend the nominee of the chancellor. It will also ensure the chancellor can only make appointment from a panel submitted by the majority members of the search-cum-select committee in case a member has a difference of opinion.
“This is clearly a move to silence the opinion of the UGC nominee in the committee,” the SUCC said in the petition. It asked the governor to be vigilant against such moves and to ensure that the provisions of the UGC Regulations 2018, in letter and spirit, are preserved in the appointments of the vice-chancellors. This would facilitate a selection process that is transparent and free from political interference, the SUCC said.
Move aimed at avoiding public criticism by guv
The UGC...
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