Bill a stepping stone in annihilation of university body autonomy, say teachers

The state government has recently announced the draft for Gujarat Common Universities Bill, which is expected to be tabled in the Monsoon Session of the Assembly next month.

AISEC joint secretary Kanu Khadadiya said that the Bill is not only unnecessary and harmful but also completely undemocratic. “We believe that such an Act should also be there for private universities. Why only for public universities when they are already controlled by the state government?” Gujarat State Adhyapak Mahamandal president Rajendra Jadav told The Indian Express.

Devduttsinh Rana, president of Akhil Gujarat Khandsamay Adhyapak Mandal, said, “For the appointment of the vice-chancellor, the committee will send five names to the state government. If they are not satisfactory, the government will return it, till it gets its candidates. Also, transfer of teachers will be unconstitutional, as every university has a different roster system.”

H K Shah, retired professor from H K Arts College in Ahmedabad said that university staff and teachers will be government employees, who would not have any voice.

The AISEC also protested against one of the articles of the draft Bill that stated that the state will have power to issue notification or directions and it will be mandatory for universities to implement the same. “There can be no clearer expression of an autocratic regime, which aims at eliminating all academic freedom,” it added.