NEW DELHI, Feb 6 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) on Thursday said that the proposed UGC draft guidelines violate the federal Spirit and undermine state authority over universities.
Opposing the UGC draft guidelines, enabling the centre to take control over the state Universities, the BRS delegation led by working president K T Rama Rao, who met Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Delhi, submitted a six-page representation to him, urging the UGC to draft new regulations that do not infringe upon state autonomy or the rights of educational institutions within the states.
Addressing the media after meeting with the Union Minister, KTR provided a detailed account of the discussions and the party’s stance on critical issues.
He stated that the party had submitted a formal letter to the central government outlining its views on the proposed changes to University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations. He emphasized that the primary reason Indian citizens are successfully showcasing their skills globally is the strong foundation provided by the country’s universities.
This success, he noted, is largely due to the research and innovation fostered within these institutions.
Highlighting the diversity of India’s educational ecosystem, the former Minister pointed out that the country has a broad spectrum of institutions, including Central and State Government universities, private educational institutions, and Centers of Excellence like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
The BRS party conveyed its concerns regarding the proposed amendments to UGC regulations to Pradhan, the BRS MLA said.
KTR explained that the central government’s proposed changes to UGC regulations undermine state rights and violate democratic principles. The plan to give full authority to state governors for appointing Vice Chancellors through search committees directly interferes with the jurisdiction of the states.
Rama Rao criticized this move as an ”overreach” by the central government, infringing upon the autonomy of state-run universities.
After consulting with education sector experts about the upcoming UGC guidelines, the party presented its stance to the central government, he said.
Raising serious concerns about the introduction of a “No Suitable Candidate Found” clause in the recruitment process, he warned that this clause could be exploited to bypass the reservation policies for SC, ST, and BC communities, allowing positions to be filled with candidates from other categories under the pretext of unavailability.
The former Minister stressed that such practices would directly violate the constitutional rights granted to marginalized communities and undermine social justice.
He stated that the party recommended university recruitments prioritize not just academic qualifications but also significant contributions to research and innovation.
(UNI()
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