Education department asks private varsities whether UGC norms are followed in VC appointments

Education department asks private varsities whether UGC norms are followed in VC appointments: The Commissioner of Higher Education in Gujarat has recently issued a circular to all private universities in the state, requesting information on whether their Vice Chancellors (VCs) were appointed in accordance with the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) minimum qualification standards.

Education department asks private varsities whether UGC norms are followed in VC appointments

The circular, dated 3 July, references a UGC notification issued on 18 July 2018 that specifies the minimum qualifications required for the appointment of faculty and academic staff in universities and colleges. This rule applies to all types of educational institutions, including government, grant-in-aid, and private universities, and should be followed when appointing vice chancellors.

According to the statement, certain private universities in Himachal Pradesh were found to have disregarded the UGC’s minimum qualification requirements. In response, the UGC expressed grave concern over the appointment of ineligible individuals to critical positions in higher education, citing the negative impact on the nation’s education system as a whole. The UGC expressed its concerns in a letter to all higher education commissioners across the country.

As a result, the Commissioner of Higher Education in Gujarat has mandated that all private universities in the state provide information regarding compliance with UGC regulations during the appointment of their VCs.

In March 2022, the Supreme Court issued a landmark judgement invalidating Shirish Kulkarni’s appointment as vice chancellor of Sardar Patel University. The court determined that Kulkarni lacked the necessary teaching experience for such an important position.

The Supreme Court bench comprised of Justices M R Shah and B V Nagarathna criticised the Gujarat government for adhering to the SP University Act and state legislation that contradicted UGC regulations. The court also expressed displeasure with the government’s refusal to amend its laws governing such appointments, despite directives from the UGC, the state’s governor in 2014, and the Gujarat High Court in 2018.