Kerala Assembly passes resolution against new rules for appointment of VCs in universities
The University Grants Commission has defended the rules, stating that they would ‘eliminate ambiguity and ensure transparency’.
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The Kerala Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution urging the Union government to withdraw the Draft University Grants Commission Regulations, 2025, reported ANI.
Issued on January 6, the regulations propose granting governors the authority to form a three-member committee to appoint vice chancellors of universities.
The new rules also propose to allow industry experts and public sector veterans to be appointed as vice chancellors, moving away from the convention of selecting only academics.
“We are presenting this resolution at a time when there are concerns raised by state governments and academic experts,” said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan while presenting the resolution in Kerala Assembly on Tuesday.
He added that universities in each state of work according to the laws passed by their state legislative Assembly. Any move to impose central regulations without consultation would undermine the federal structure of India, Vijayan was quoted as saying by India Today.
The new regulations could have major implications for Opposition-ruled states like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Kerala. In the past, the governments in these states have tussled with the governors – who serve as the chancellors of state universities – over academic appointments.
On January 9, the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a similar resolution against the rules.
Introducing the resolution, Chief Minister MK Stalin described the Draft University Grants Commission (Minimum Qualifications...
