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The Knowledge Commission could not have described it better. It wants “zero-interference” from the government in the appointment of vice-chancellors for the proposed 14 “world-class universities” at Amritsar, Greater Noida and other places. In a letter to the University Grants Commission, it has also sought full autonomy to the VCs in the running of the universities, including fixing of tuition and other fees. In fact, the measures the Knowledge Commission has suggested for the new universities should be adopted in the case of all existing universities also. If higher education is in the doldrums, it is because of political and bureaucratic interference in the running of universities. The problem, often, begins with the appointment of vice-chancellors. Elected governments want their favourities as VCs so that they can remote-control the functioning of the universities.
As a result, academic brilliance, administrative acumen and adherence to ethics and principles are no longer insisted upon while selecting vice-chancellors. The essential qualification ends up as the concerned person’s proximity to the Chief Minister and the Education Minister. Once such a person is elevated to the post, he will always remain amenable to political influences while admitting students, appointing teachers, prescribing textbooks and awarding contracts. And as soon as the government goes, the VCs are replaced with the favourities of the new government. It was only recently that some vice-chancellors in Punjab were shown the door because they were considered close to the previous government.
It is to insulate the universities from political control that the highest authority is vested in the Chancellor, who is usually the Governor of the state. The academic community and the students can only lament when the Chancellors themselves are unable to protect the interests of the universities. What happened in Guru Nanak University, Amritsar, whose Vice-Chancellor was asked by the Chancellor to appear before a low government official in a complaint against the VC was the pits. There is need to evolve a foolproof system whereby only the most qualified person is selected from a panel of eminent personalities. Until then, the universities will remain a playground of politicians.
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