Gujarat assembly passes Bill unifying 11 university acts; Congress says it will reduce autonomy
Gujarat assembly on Saturday passed the Gujarat Public Universities Bill which seeks to unify different Acts to smoothen the governance of 11 universities in the state and properly implement the 2020 National Education Policy (NEP).
While Education Minister Rushikesh Patel called the Bill a «milestone,» the opposition Congress said it infringes on the autonomy of the universities and is detrimental to academic freedom. With this Bill, 11 Acts governing as many universities stand repealed.
The Bill, passed by a voice vote, provides common guidelines to ensure «smooth governance» of these universities through «better coordination, cooperation and proper utilisation of higher education facilities.»
It also seeks to ensure «sound finance control, better-quality higher education and measures to create excellent quality standards in the face of global competition.»
With the exception of Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (MSU), the Gujarat Governor will serve as chancellor of ten universities.
Shubhangini Raje Gaekwad, a member of the erstwhile royal family of Baroda, shall be the chancellor of MSU, the Bill said.
«There is a need to remove and rectify the errors, deficiencies, obstacles, loopholes and limitations that have been identified by experience in various sections of University Acts,» the Bill said.
The Bill replaces the senates and syndicates with a 'board of management' which will be the principal executive and final decision-making and policy-making authority of a university and responsible for administering all its affairs.
Members of a board of management will have a term of two-and-a-half years.
The Bill restricts the tenure of a vice chancellor to five years at a university. If found competent, the person
