CHENNAI: The draft Act proposed to replace the University Grants Commission with the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) is a violation of the right of the State government and against the spirit of the Constitution, allege some educationists.Section 19 & 20 of the draft Act makes it mandatory for a university established by the State legislature to get authorisation from the HECI, which can also revoke its authorisation if the university does not maintain the standards the commission prescribes.
“This is a blatant violation of the right of the State government and it is against the spirit of the Constitution of India,” said Prince Gajendrababu, general secretary of the State Platform for Common School System - Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN), in a statement on Wednesday.
The draft Act makes provision for appointment of an overseas citizen of India to the post of the chairperson of. “Such persons will not have direct exposure to the social and cultural issues of the Indian society at present. A university is part of the community; hence, a Commission that is to regulate universities cannot be headed by a foreign national, who is born, brought up and living in a foreign land,” he said.
The draft was released on June 28 and the government has asked the public to submit their feedback by July 7. The time given for sending comments is too short to study and respond to a draft Act that will have far-reaching effect on the higher education, said S Arumainathan, president of Tamil Nadu Students’-Parents’ Welfare Association (TNSPWA).