Pinarayi calls UGC draft rules ‘bid to abolish states’ rights on higher education’, asks opposition to unite

According to government sources, if approved as is, the new regulations will give chancellors greater control over vice-chancellor selection. This will likely have significant ramifications for Opposition-ruled states such as Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala, where the government and Governor, who serves as Chancellor of state universities, have been locked in disputes over the academic appointment process.

Reacting to the draft, Vijayan alleged that it was a continuation of the “commercialisation, communalisation and centralisation policies imposed by the UGC and the central government”.

In a statement, the CM alleged that the proposal to give chancellors greater control over the selection of vice-chancellors was against the principles of federalism and violated basic the values of the Constitution.

“This suggestion has shattered the constitutional perspective that the Governor should act as per the advice of the Council of Ministers. The appointment of VCs in universities in states as per the interests of the Union government (which appoints Governors), is a challenge to the concurrent list in the Constitution,” he said.

Vijayan also criticised the proposed change enabling people who are not professors to become vice-chancellors. “This is just a short route to bring Sangh Parivar nominees to the top of the governance of universities. There is strong protest against the encroachment upon the rights of states. I urge all democratic forces in the country to come out against the Sangh Parivar agenda in the UGC draft regulations,” he said.

The CPI(M) also released a statement against the draft regulations, saying, “At one stroke, the Centre through these guidelines can appoint vice-chancellors of its choice in all state-run universities through the governor-cum-chancellors.”

“All democratic sections, including non-BJP state governments, should unitedly oppose this dangerous provision. It should be withdrawn,” the statement said.

The CPI(M)-led government in Kerala had in 2023 sought to remove the Governor as the chancellor of state universities, and the state Assembly had passed a Bill to that effect. This came at a time when the government was at loggerheads with former Governor Arif Mohammed Khan following his interventions in the higher education sector against the interests of the government. The Governor had referred the Bill to the President, who has so far withheld assent for it.