BRS opposes new UGC draft regulations on Vice Chancellor appointments

Says proposed draft rules infringe on rights of States and centralise power in the hands of the Union government

Hyderabad: Joining the opposition parties in the country, the BRS opposed several provisions in the new draft regulations of University Grants Commission (UGC), terming them detrimental to Telangana and against federal spirit of the nation.

The party decided to write to the UGC on its objections in this regard and also upload them on the UGC website in the prescribed manner.

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A team of BRS leaders, led by former Minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy and former MP B Vinod Kumar, convened a meeting at Telangana Bhavan on Thursday and deliberated on various provisions in around 11 clauses of the draft regulations.

Senior BRS leaders, including MLA Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, MLC Surabhi Vani Devi, former MP Ravula Chandrashekhar Reddy, BRS leaders Dasoju Sravan and Dr RS Praveen Kumar, among others, participated in the meeting.

Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting, former Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy criticised the UGC’s proposed draft rules, asserting that they infringe on the rights of States and centralise power in the hands of the union government.

The BRS has demanded that the Congress government oppose the draft regulations, and declared that the party will not tolerate any attempts to weaken federalism.

“Under the new rules, the appointment of University Vice Chancellors (VCs) will be controlled by the Central government, bypassing the respective State governments. This is unacceptable. The BRS strongly opposes this move and other regressive clauses in the draft,” she said.

She criticised the Congress government for its inaction on the issue, questioning Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s lack of response despite the UGC’s deadline for feedback approaching on January 30.

“As both Chief Minister and Education Minister, Revanth Reddy’s neglect of higher education is appalling,” she said.

Former MP B Vinod Kumar said the party deliberated on the UGC draft regulations for over two hours, concluding that 11 clauses are detrimental to State interests.

He informed that BRS would submit its objections on the UGC website and reveal its stance at a press conference to be held on Friday.