UGC regulations not binding on government: Odisha tells HC

UGC regulations not binding on government: Odisha tells HC

TNN | Jul 20, 2021, 12.28 PM IST

CUTTACK: The controversy over the amendment of the Odisha Universities Act, 1989 has intensified with the state government telling the Orissa high court that the regulations of the University Grants Commission (UGC) are not binding on it.In an affidavit, higher education departments deputy secretary Surya Narayan Mohapatra said, “The UGC regulations are binding on the state government to the limited extent of coordinating and determining the standards of higher education.”

When the Orissa Universities (Amendment) Act, 2020 was brought nearly nine months ago, the BJD government had claimed that the main aim behind it was to bring all universities in the state under one Act.

But the move triggered a controversy with opposition from different quarters, especially educationists and opposition parties demanding complete withdrawal of the amendment.

The controversy reached the high court with retired Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Ajit Kumar Mohanty and Utkal University professor Kunja Bihari Panda along with others filing two separate PILs seeking intervention against it.

Responding to the notices, the UGC took a stand against Orissa Universities (Amendment) Act, 2020 and claimed in an affidavit that it was in conflict with its 2018 regulations issued under the University Grant Commission Act, 1956. The state government had filed the affidavit in reply to UGC’s affidavit on July 14. The matter has been posted to August 4.

In the affidavit, Mohapatra said the UGC stand is limited to the amendments dealing with the appointment of vice-chancellors and teaching staff of the universities. He said the UGC has not opposed the other amendments made vide the Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2020.

“By way of the Amendment Act, 2020 the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has been entrusted with the recruitment of teaching staff of universities following the recommendation of the chancellor. Recruitment of teaching/research staff through the OPSC will usher in greater transparency and will ensure that the best candidates are selected,” Mohapatra claimed in the affidavit.

“The state government had, by the amendment, changed the composition of the selection committee for the recommendation of names to the chancellor for appointment to the post of vice-chancellor without any change in the standard and qualifications required for the post. A change in the composition of the selection committee also does not prejudicially affect the standards of education as prescribed by parliament,” the deputy secretary claimed.