Varsity employees' delegation meets Kerala Governor, voices concern over University (Amendment) Bill
A joint delegation representing the Cochin University Employees Union, Federation of University Employees Organisations, and the Cochin University of Science and Technology Teachers Organisation met Governor Rajendra Arlekar to express concern over the University Laws (Amendment) Bill.
The delegation, which met the Governor at Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, expressed serious concerns regarding the proposed amendments to the University Act that sought to expand the powers of the Pro-Chancellor (Minister for Higher Education) while simultaneously curtailing the authority of the Chancellor, according to a release. If enacted, it would result in excessive executive interference in university governance, in direct contravention of the well-established principles of higher education law and constitutional propriety, it said.
The representatives submitted a memorandum to the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of State universities, stating that such changes would adversely impact the autonomy and academic independence of universities.
The proposed amendments empower the Pro-Chancellor to discharge the functions of the Chancellor, either in the Chancellor's absence or by way of delegation through executive order. This delegation of quasi-judicial and statutory powers to an executive functionary, who is politically affiliated, violates the principle of neutrality and separation of powers essential to the independent functioning of academic institutions, it said.
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