) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday flayed the
UGC’s new regulations granting broader control to Governors in appointment of
Vice Chancellors and termed it as ‘authoritarian’ move by the BJP-led Government
at the Centre and a direct assault on federalism and state’s rights.
Terming the UGC’s unilateral notification in this regard as Unconstitutional, he said
this overreach is unacceptable and Tamil Nadu will fight it legally and politically.
It is a move to undermine the democratically elected state governments and that
educaton should remain in the hands of those chosen by the people and not dictated
by Governors acting at the BJP’s behest.
He said “the new UGC regulations granting Governors broader control over VC
appointments and allowing non-academics to hold these posts are a direct assault
on federalism and state rights.”
“This authoritarian move by the Union BJP government seeks to centralise power
and undermine democratically elected state governments”, Mr Stalin said.
“Education must remain in the hands of those chosen by the people, not dictated
by Governors acting at the BJP government’s behest”, the.Chief Minister said.
“Tamil Nadu, which leads the nation with the highest number of top-ranking HEIs,
will not stay silent as our institutions are stripped of autonomy”, he added.
“Education is a subject under the Concurrent List in our Constitution, and hence
we consider that the move of the UGC to issue this notification unilaterally as
unconstitutional”, Mr Stalin said.
“This overreach is unacceptable, and Tamil Nadu will fight it legally and
politically”, he added.
