By Express News Service
NEW DELHI: Commenting on the draft, G Thiruvasagam, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Madras, said, “Like in many foreign countries, the Centre should have a single regulatory body replacing various regulatory bodies like UGC, All India Council for Technical Education, Medical Council of India and Pharmacy Council of India.
“The new body should be independent, without the interference of the ministry. Also, any regulation should be in place for, say, five years. It should not be changed or amended often, say, within six months.”
Association of University Teachers (AUT) former general secretary C Pichandy criticised the draft, saying, “The doubt expressed by AUT that this council will take away the powers of not only the academic institutions but also the powers of the state government to administer institutes of higher learning has been validated by this draft bill.”
“Any attempt to centralise higher education is dangerous to its autonomy. Also, taking away financial powers from the HEIC will make it a toothless body. A quality ensuring body should have the powers of funding, regulation and administration; otherwise it will become a ceremonial vestigial organ of the MHRD. By taking away the financial and legislative options, the MHRD is establishing a centrist power making academia subservient to political and bureaucratic powers,” he added.
The Prime Minister should intervene and see to it that academic freedom and autonomy are safeguarded and the interest of State government is protected, he demanded.
