Cabinet Clears Ordinance to Revise DUK Vice-Chancellor Appointment Rules

Swift Summary:

• The Kerala State Cabinet approved a draft Ordinance to amend provisions of the Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology Act, 2021.
• The amendments target Sections 11(3),(4),and (6) to align with UGC Regulations of 2018 and recent court rulings.
• The ordinance will be sent to the Governor for promulgation.
• Changes are reportedly aimed at facilitating the appointment of a regular Vice-Chancellor following a Supreme Court directive.
• Amendments could modify the composition of the search-cum-selection committee for V-C appointments.

– Current law stipulates that the committee includes senior administration officials,industry experts,academic representatives,and nominees from both state government and UGC.
– An age limit of 61 years is set for appointments under Section 11(6).

• Sources suggest adjustments may replace the Chief Secretary as part of compliance with UGC Regulations requiring “persons of eminence in higher education” on such committees.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The proposed amendments by Kerala’s Cabinet mark an effort to align state university legislation with national guidelines codified by UGC Regulations. This move reflects an adherence to legal norms after judicial interventions regarding Vice-Chancellor appointments-an issue that has attracted scrutiny across states in India.

Modernizing governance frameworks within universities can foster greater transparency while reducing potential disputes about procedural legality. Altering committee compositions might signal proactive governance aimed at avoiding future litigation while ensuring regulatory compliance. however, reliance on broader definitions like “persons of eminence” leaves room for interpretive challenges even in well-intentioned efforts toward reform.

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