Karnataka joined other non-BJP ruled states that are opposing the new set of draft regulations issued by the University of Grants Commission (UGC) for the appointment of vice chancellors and filling up academic and non-academic posts.
"The draft norms are a major setback for higher education in India, and infringed on the constitutional rights of the states in a federal arrangement," stated state higher education minister Dr M.C. Sudhakar. He announced that Karnataka would host a national-level conclave of higher education ministers of states on February 5 to deliberate on the proposed regulations.
"The objections to the regulations would be sent to the Centre and the UGC," he added.
On January 6, the Union minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan launched the draft of the proposed UGC regulations (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) 2025, along with draft guidelines on cadre ratio, period of probation and confirmation, leaves, teaching days, academic research and administrative commitments, seniority and code of professional ethics for teachers and other administrative staff in universities and colleges to replace the old version of the UGC regulations notified in 2018.
"The draft not only infringes on the state's rights but also curtails the autonomy of universities. The state governments spend on the land, development and salaries and pensions. This shifts control over VC appointment to the central government, while curtailing the state's role in appointment of the vice chancellor and development of higher education, too. I have written a letter to the Union minister to consult the states before suggesting radical changes to the existing norms," said Sudhakar.
The draft recommends the formation of a search-cum-selection committee appointed solely by the chancellor to select the vice chancellor.
The states contend that the 2025 regulations would only increase the central control and limit the autonomy of state-funded and private universities by overriding their statutes and imposing uniform rules for VC appointments. By allowing non-academics (individuals with experience in public administration or the corporate sector) to become vice chancellors, it would dilute the academic focus required for the position. Worse, it might open the door for politically motivated appointments. The states also fear that appointing VCs with non-academic backgrounds or political leanings might affect the quality and independence of faculty recruitment.
"It is a violation of the federal principles, too, as uniform regulations are imposed on the state universities funded and created by the state governments, which could impact governance in higher education," said Sudhakar.
In Karnataka, the draft regulation would impact 41 state government universities, 27 state private universities, 11 state deemed universities and one PPP university and a central university.
"The private universities will also lose their autonomy as the Centre will have control over the VC appointment and governance of the varsity," rued Sudhakar, who has written a letter (on January 13) to Pradhan pointing out that the draft provided no role for the state government, though it bears 85 per cent of the expenditure of the universities.
Incidentally, the Karnataka Assembly passed a bill, the Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill-2024, to curtail the powers of the governor as the chancellor.
At present, the search committee appointed by the state government shortlists three names of eligible candidates (academicians) for the appointment to the vice-chancellor and sends it to the governor for his approval. But, once the proposed bill becomes a law, the state government will be free to finalise a single name out of the three names proposed by the search committee, which will then be sent to the governor for his nod.
"There is no rule that chancellor should be the governor. It was a tradition to have the governor act as the chancellor, too. But the rising conflict between the governor and the government has led us to amend the law," defended Sudhakar.
