Karnataka Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar

Summary

Karnataka is hosting a conclave of state higher education ministers in Bengaluru on February 5 to discuss the draft UGC regulations

NEW DELHI: Karnataka is hosting a conclave of state higher education ministers in Bengaluru on February 5 to discuss the draft UGC regulations, which are presently available for public consultation, and the grading of institutions according to the National Education Policy’s implementation.

 

Additionally, Wide-ranging modifications to the vice-chancellor appointment procedure are suggested in the draft guidelines.

 

On Thursday, Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar declared that his counterparts from every state, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Bihar, had been invited to the conclave. It is anticipated that the states will respond to the invitations by Monday.

 

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According to Sudhakar, there is a big problem with the University Grants Commission (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Standards in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations 2025 since they reduce the authority that state governments have historically had and their constitutional obligations in the field.

 

He voiced concerns about the draft regulations’ complete exclusion of state governments from the process and giving chancellors—mostly governors—total control over vice-chancellor appointments and search committee formation.

 

These rules have already drawn criticism from a number of states, including Tamil Nadu and Kerala, as well as from some NDA allies. According to Sudhakar, the conclave’s goal is to discuss the draft regulations’ advantages and disadvantages and come to a consensus.

 

The conclave would thoroughly assess the possible negative impacts of the proposed regulations on universities, including deemed, private, and public institutions, the minister said, adding that the central government and the UGC would be informed of the decisions made.

 

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Dr. Sudhakar condemned the UGC’s decision to enact rules without first consulting the states, saying, “This unilateral approach undermines the federal structure and the spirit of cooperative federalism.” Rethinking the regulations is necessary.

 

Sudhakar sent a letter to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on January 13 expressing his strong disapproval of the draft UGC regulations, specifically the clauses pertaining to vice-chancellor appointments.

 

According to the draft guidelines, a search-cum-selection committee should be established, with no state government representation, and appointed exclusively by the chancellor or visitor.

 

Additionally, they grant the chancellor or visitor the sole authority to select vice-chancellors from the committee’s recommended panel. They also contain clauses that make vice-chancellor appointments made in violation of these guidelines void.

 

The minister emphasized in the letter that such clauses run counter to state laws that regulate universities. It also called for further discussion on the issue and raised concerns about non-academicians being considered as viable candidates for the vice-chancellor position.

 

The Karnataka Assembly approved a bill in December 2024 to designate the chief minister as the chancellor of Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayati Raj University, replacing the governor. This led to the creation of the draft regulations and the events that followed. The governor has not yet ratified the bill.

 

The governor was to be replaced as chancellor of other state universities by the state cabinet in November. The minister of higher education went on to say that a draft bill to amend the Karnataka State Universities Act was being worked on. This bill would introduce important administrative reforms for the 42 government-run universities.