Forums demand autonomy for universities, Free from political interference

Forums demand autonomy for universities, Free from political interference

Former VC Panjabi University Boparai urged for complete autonomy to varsities 

Chandigarh 29 April ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Chandigarh, To uphold the sanctity of universities as "temples of knowledge," public forums Lok-Raj Punjab and Jago-Punjab have called for complete autonomy and independence for all universities. They emphasized that these vital institutions must be free from political interference to preserve their role as custodians of cultural diversity, languages, heritage and history. Speaking jointly, Padma Shri and Kirti Chakra awardee Prof. Swarn Singh Boparai, former Vice Chancellor, Panjabi University and Chairman of Jago-Punjab and Dr. Manjit Singh Randhawa, Convenor of Lok-Raj asserted that the post of Vice Chancellor should be redefined as "Chancellor." Further, the appointment should be made by the university's governing body not by the Governor and the candidate must be a respected faculty member from the same university. They criticized the current practice where the state Chief Minister sends a panel of names to the Governor who then appoints the Vice Chancellor, often someone from outside the institution. Drawing comparisons with foreign universities, where Chancellors hold full administrative powers, they pointed out that Indian Vice Chancellors merely exercise delegated powers from politically appointed Chancellors, leaving them with no real authority. The statement was prompted by recent incidents particularly at PAU Ludhiana where political interference allegedly led to public embarrassment. The forums called such acts "reprehensible" and warned that political control undermines the impartiality, integrity and future of education in India.