Varsity governing bodies: eligibility rules challenged

Dhananjay Kulkarni,convenor of the body,Vidyapeeth Vikas Manch (VVM), told The Indian Express,“Owing to the government decision,many deserving candidates will lose their opportunity to become members of governing bodies,which will affect the smooth functioning of these bodies. We oppose the ordinance and are planning to file a writ in the Bombay High Court in the second week of January.”

The move assumes significance in the backdrop of the University of Pune (UoP) starting a campaign for online voter registration for elections of various governing bodies of the varsity to be held in August 2010. The varsity posted a circular in this regard on its website recently.

In August,the state government had come up with an ordinance to set criteria for members of various governing bodies of the state varsities. As per the new norms,college teachers who aspire to contest elections to any governing body must possess PhD degrees to be eligible.

There are various other norms that are being challenged. For example,in case of office-bearers’ the candidate must have served as an office-bearer for a certain period of time to be eligible to contest.

The VVM had strongly opposed the new norms,saying that it is not necessary be a PhD holder to become a member of governing bodies such as the senate. “Moreover,the criteria will create monopoly of certain sections that will harm the democratic functioning of these bodies,” the VVM had argued.

Various other teachers’ and principals’ organisations had also demanded that the government roll back its decision. The VVM even carried out a state-wide campaign against the ordinance. The VVM representatives had recently met State Higher Education Minister Rajesh Tope regarding a rethink on the issue.

Kulkarni said Tope had assured them he would look in the matter. “The issue was also discussed in the Winter Session of the Assembly,but no decision was taken. So,we have now decided to move the High Court,” he said.