States cite federal principles to oppose NCHER bill

Basant Kumar Mohanty
New Delhi, May 10 (PTI) A crucial bill for creation of
an overarching body to regulate higher education is expected
to undergo changes with a number of states, including Kerala,
West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, objecting to certain key clauses
which they see as violation of "federal principles".
Among the provisions opposed by these states in the
National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER)
bill include that a new university should get authorisation
from NCHER before operation and vice chancellors should be
appointed from a national registry.
These states expressed their objections during a
nation-wide consultation process over the bill.
"States have complained that this is against federal
principles. They are saying this is centralisation of
education," an academician associated with the nation-wide
consultation exercise on the bill, told PTI.
States like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal were of
the view that the provisions of the proposed law will take
away their power in starting and managing institutions.
The HRD Ministry has prepared a draft law for NCHER as
an overarching body in higher education, replacing the
existing regulatory bodies like University Grants Commission,
All India Council of Technical Education and National Council
for Teachers' Education.
The draft bill says that the proposed body will
specify norms and standards for grant of authorisation to a
university or a higher educational institution to commence its
academic operations.
No university or institution empowered by or under law
to award any degree or diploma established after the coming
into force of this Act shall commence academic operations
unless it is so recognised, it said.
The NCHER will maintain a national registry with names
of eligible persons for the post of vice chancellors. In case
of vacancy, the NCHER will suggest five names from the
registry for the post.
A task force, set up by the HRD Ministry, held
nation-wide consultations during which the representatives of
various state government opposed these two provisions.
A member of task force said the bill is being
redrafted now in view of objections raised by the states.
However, the key provisions may not be dropped but there may
be certain modifications to such provisions, he said.
"This is being redrafted. Then it will go to the Law
Ministry and PMO. The bill may be introduced in Parliament in
the monsoon session," he said. The concerns of the states will
be taken care of in redrafted bill, he said.
According to Planning Commission member Prof Narendra
Jadhav, the contention of the states is not correct.
"I asked them do you have any representation in UGC,
AICTE or NCTE now? However, they are going to get
representation in NCHER registry. Is it going against
federalism," Jadhav asked. PTI BKM
MRD