Gujarat Assembly Passes Controversial Public Universities Bill
The Gujarat Assembly recently passed the Gujarat Public Universities Bill, a controversial piece of legislation that brings significant changes to the governance of public universities in the state. One of the key provisions of the bill is the elimination of student politics by removing the senate and syndicate system and concentrating power in the hands of the state government.
The primary objective of the bill is to unify the different acts that govern the 11 public universities in Gujarat and ensure the proper implementation of the 2020 National Education Policy (NEP), according to the state government. Higher Education Minister Rushikesh Patel hailed the bill as a “milestone” in improving the governance of universities.
However, the opposition party, Congress, strongly criticized the bill, arguing that it would undermine the autonomy of public universities. They claim that the stringent provisions of the bill infringe on the universities’ autonomy, impede academic freedom, and interfere with their internal functioning. Despite opposition from Congress legislators, the bill was passed through a voice vote in the State Assembly.
With the passage of the bill, the 11 acts governing the public universities have been repealed, and all the universities are now governed by a common law. The aim is to ensure smooth governance through better coordination, cooperation, and optimal utilization of higher education facilities.
The bill replaces the senates and syndicates with a “board of management” that will act as the principal executive and final decision-making authority for the universities, responsible for administering all their affairs. This means that there will no longer be any elections or political activities by the student wings of any political party. Members of the board of management will serve a term of two-and-a-half years.
The bill also introduces restrictions on the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor, limiting it to five years at a university. However, if found competent, a Vice-Chancellor may be appointed to another university for an additional five-year term. Additionally, a Vice-Chancellor can be removed from office if they are associated with a political party or organization. The bill grants the government the power to determine if a party or organization is considered “political” in nature.
Once the bill is enacted, the Governor will serve as the Chancellor of 10 universities, while Shubhangini Raje Gaekwad, a member of the erstwhile royal family of Baroda, will be the Chancellor of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad University in Vadodara.
The bill aims to rectify errors, deficiencies, obstacles, loopholes, and limitations that have been identified in various sections of the university acts, according to its provisions.
Critics of the bill, particularly from the Congress party, argue that it will undermine the autonomy and academic independence of universities in the state. They accuse the government of “sarkarikaran” (governmentization) of education and claim that the bill encourages privatization. Congress legislature party leader Amit Chavda also believes that the bill attacks the autonomy of public universities and will end their academic and financial independence.
Opposition leaders argue that previously, student leaders of the senate and syndicate bodies addressed student issues, but now, only individuals close to the government or the ruling party will be appointed to the administrative bodies governing the universities.
Under the new law, universities will have an executive council as their functional authority and an academic council as their premier academic authority. However, the state government retains the power to specify eligibility conditions for individuals nominated to these authorities, ultimately maintaining effective control over the universities.
Furthermore, all universities will be required to enact model statutes provided by the state government, and any changes to these statutes will be subject to government approval. The government will also be able to prescribe uniform statutes for all the universities.
In addition, the bill prevents universities from disqualifying a teacher or non-teaching employee for serving as a member of the legislative assembly or parliament. Instead, the period of their membership will be treated as leave without pay.
Overall, the Gujarat Public Universities Bill marks a significant shift in the governance of public universities in the state. While the government argues that it will lead to better-quality education and enhanced standards in the face of global competition, many critics fear that it will undermine the autonomy and academic freedom of these institutions.
