Latest news with #Statutes


New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
KU crisis: Pro-left syndicate members counter Gurukkal's statement, demand its withdrawal
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Pro-left Syndicate members of Kerala University have urged Kerala State Higher Education Council vice-chairperson Rajan Gurukkal to retract his statement blaming the Kerala University Syndicate for the current crisis in the university. The Syndicate members said Gurukkal's aspersions on the Syndicate were not only erroneous but also lent unintended grist to the Sangh Parivar's mill. In a statement on July 20, Gurukkal had said the Syndicate's ignorance of the Act and Statutes was the prime reason for the crisis. According to M Lenin Lal, pro-LDF syndicate member, Gurukkal's accusation of statutory violations by the Kerala University Syndicate is wholly unfounded. The real flashpoint lies in the overreach of Vice-Chancellor-in-Charge Mohanan Kunnummal. On July 2, Kunnummal suspended Registrar K.S. Anil Kumar for cancelling a private event at the Senate Hall, where a portrait of Bharat Mata, adorned with a saffron flag, was displayed in the presence of Governor Rajendra Arlekar. Citing Section 10(13) of the Kerala University Act, Kunnummal claimed an emergency necessitated his decision. However, Section 10(14) explicitly restricts the Vice-Chancellor's authority to suspend officers above the rank of Deputy Registrar, such as the Registrar, a senior officer under Chapter III, Section 9.

New Indian Express
21-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
NEP 2020 has taken steps to stop commercialisation of education: Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
NEW DELHI: Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday informed the Lok Sabha that multiple mechanisms with checks and balances have been provided in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to stop the commercialisation of education. He was responding to a starred question by MP Arminder Singh Raja as to whether any survey had been done regarding the surging tuition fee in public and private universities and if any guidelines had been put in place to regulate cost of online and hybrid degree programmes under NEP 2020. Raja also wanted details about Central scholarships granted to students from economically weaker sections. Pradhan said NEP 2020 emphasises online and offline public disclosure and transparency for both public and private schools. "NEP proposes similar standards of audit and disclosure as a 'not-for- profit' entity to all the education institutions. Surplus, if any, will be reinvested in the educational sector. Similarly, in higher education, all HEIs- public and private- shall be treated at par observing common guidelines." The Universities are autonomous bodies which are governed by their respective Acts or statues. Based on the type of universities, the criteria for fee structure is administered, he said. In respect of IITs/ IIITs / NITs/IIEST/ IIMs etc, the fee structure is regulated as per the provision of the respective Acts/ Statutes, Pradhan pointed out.


New Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
All eyes now on Kerala governor Arlekar's next move
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the vice-chancellor and syndicate in Kerala University refusing to budge from their respective stances in the registrar suspension issue, all eyes are now on the course of action Governor Rajendra Arlekar would adopt on the matter by exercising his powers as Chancellor. Vice-Chancellor Ciza Thomas had submitted a detailed report before the governor stating that the syndicate meeting that reinstated the registrar was 'invalid'. She has also reportedly informed the governor that the continuance of K S Anil Kumar in the registrar's post was illegal. The High Court had observed that since the syndicate has decided to reinstate the registrar, the correctness of that decision must be determined by the 'appropriate authority', meaning the chancellor. 'In this case, Arlekar is expected to exercise his powers under Section 7(3) of the Kerala University Act,' said a source. This provision in the Act empowers the chancellor to 'annul any proceeding of any of the authorities of the university which is not in conformity with this Act, the Statutes, the Ordinances, the Regulations, the rules or the bye-laws'.