The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government is using the University Grants Commission (UGC) as a legal tool to intrude into the State. Through government institutions, it plans to impose its cultural and ideological beliefs on non-BJP states, alleged Telangana Education Commission (TEC) Chairperson Akunuri Murali.
Speaking to The Hindu, he said that TEC rejects the draft UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations 2025 wholly, “as its intentions are clear, intruding into the State and striking at the root of the federal structure.”
On Thursday, he chaired a seminar with experts and academicians from Telangana, to deliberate on the concerns of the draft. Among them were former Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, over a dozen professors and the members of the commission.
According to them, the appointment of Vice-Chancellors, as per the Draft, drastically reduces the role of State governments and the positions kept open for senior officers in industry, public administration, public policy and public sector undertaking, up to 10 years’ experience, would adversely impact the future of universities.
The delegation pointed to the Centre’s recent proposals such as common entrance examinations, single entrance exam for the entire country, among other plans, as ‘Centralisation plans’.
The team of experts drew a unanimous resolution supporting the Telangana government’s stand against the draft.
Published – February 07, 2025 09:40 pm IST