Kerala Assembly passes University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022

Posted By
10Pointer
Categories
Polity & Governance
Published
3rd Sep, 2022

Context

Recently, the Kerala Assembly passed the University Laws (Amendment) Bill 2022 which alters the composition of the search-cum-selection committee to appoint Vice Chancellors and effectively provide the State government greater leverage in the process.

About the amendments in the Bill

It proposes changes in the appointment process of vice-chancellors in state universities.
The bill was passed with a key amendment brought in by the government to replace the earlier clause that the vice-chairman of the state higher education council would be a member of the VC selection committee and also its convener.

Now, a nominee of the government and an academic nominated by the higher education council vice-chairman will now be part of the panel.

The maximum age limit of a person to be appointed as vice chancellor has been raised to 65 from 60 years as per the new bill.

Arguments in Favour

Arguments against

No rights of the chancellor are being curtailed through the amendments.
The amendment was brought in to avoid legal tangles in future.
Only the number of members in the selection-cum-search committee has been increased.
The Higher Education Council vice chairman would not be a member of the search committee as pointed out by the opposition but only his nominee.

Amendments were made to facilitate appointment of people close to the ruling front.
This will lead to a scenario in which the governor can appoint only those who are close to the government.