The Kerala Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution urging the central government to withdraw the draft guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and demanded a revised version. The resolution, presented by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, emphasised that the draft norms were not aligned with the spirit of the Constitution.
The Chief Minister further highlighted that universities across the country operate under laws passed by state legislatures, which have the authority to establish and oversee these institutions. He highlighted that the centre government can only coordinate and fix standards for higher education and research institutions.
The CM claimed that the provision in the norms allowing persons even from the private sector to be appointed as Vice Chancellors, while not considering academic experts, was “a move to commercialise the higher education sector”.
Pinarayi Vijayan, said,”By ignoring these facts and without holding discussions with all the stakeholders, the Centre issued the draft guidelines which completely exclude the opinions of the state governments, including on the appointment of Vice Chancellors, and therefore, they are “incompatible with the federal system and democracy.”
He further criticised the draft by saying that it would allow individuals from private sectors to hold the position as Vice Chancellors, and would ignore the required academic experts. He also said that it is a move to commercialise the higher education sector.
He bolstered the fact that UGC norms 2025 can be looked at as moves to destroy democratic values in the field of higher education and to give control to those who spread religious and communal ideas.
Vijayan said,”This House unanimously requests the central government to immediately withdraw the draft UGC norms of 2025, consider the opinions and concerns of the state governments and academic experts, and to issue new norms only after holding detailed discussions with all the stakeholders and taking their opinions seriously.”
Last week, while criticizing the new UGC regulations, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced his intention to join forces with non-BJP chief ministers across the country to oppose the norms introduced by the central body. The Draft UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment & Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges, and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025 were released in the first week of January.
According to the Union Education Ministry, the draft guidelines aim to provide universities with greater flexibility in appointing and promoting teachers and academic staff.
(With PTI Inputs)