‘Attack on Autonomy’: Education ministry seeks presence in DU, other central university executive councils

NEW DELHI: Teachers have raised concerns about an education ministry letter, dated August 20, that has directed Delhi University and 27 other central universities to amend their university statutes to include a representative from the ministry in their executive councils.

The ministry said that the order aims to “ensure uniformity” among central universities and has asked the 28 universities to complete the amendment of statutes within 60 days of receiving the letter. Teachers, however, have called this move a “direct attack” on the autonomy of the university.

The education ministry, in the letter, said that it has reviewed the governance structure of all 48 central universities and noted a disparity in the representation of ministry within the executive council, which is the highest decision making body of the universities. The ministry said that while 20 central universities already have a ministry representative, 28 others do not.

The Delhi University, for instance, has only university staff in its executive council. There is a provision for two nominations to the council by the Visitor, that is the President of India, but those are currently vacant.

The ministry has asked the universities to amend the statutes within 60 days, as of August 20, by getting an approval from the Visitor.

‘To ensure uniformity’: Ministry of education

“To ensure uniformity in governance across all central universities, it is suggested that the Secretary (Higher Education), Ministry of Education, Government of India or his/her nominee be included as a member of the Executive Council of your University. This inclusion is critical to align the governance structures of all central universities and to facilitate more consistent collaboration with the ministry,” said

The matter will be discussed in the Delhi University Executive Council on Monday.

‘Attack on autonomy’

Teachers, however, have raised concerns about the ministry move to include its representative in the Executive Council.

“This is a direct attack upon the autonomy of the University, considering that the University of Delhi is a statutory autonomous organization established under an Act of Parliament and governed by the DU Act, 1922,” said Richa Raj, a former member of Delhi University’s academic council. “Having a ministerial nominee would rob the university of its autonomous space in administrative and academic decisions. Universities are supposed to be purveyors of free thinking encouraging an enquiring attitude. They are not government departments, and therefore this letter should be strongly rejected by the EC members.”

There is strong opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) across multiple central universities. The policy was adopted by the central government in 2020 through a Cabinet decision; it was not tabled in parliament.

Teachers have also opposed the imposition of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for admission to colleges. Before the national-level CUET exam was introduced in 2022, admission policies were framed by the individual university. Then, the ministry has also pushed institutions like Delhi University to opt for graded autonomy, including autonomy in many financial matters – it was granted in 2023 – and infrastructure expansion through loans from the Higher Education Finance Agency (HEFA). Both resisted by teachers who have argued these measures will pave the way for privatisation of the public institution along with sharp fee hikes.