Date:23/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/23/stories/2008112359470700.htm

Tamil Nadu

Call for a review of the Common University Act

Special Correspondent

MADURAI: Faculty associations of nine universities have urged the State government to review draft contents of the Common University Act. They also wanted the government to ensure that the academic/administrative autonomy of universities was not eroded by the Act.

Representatives of all faculty associations, including those of the University of Madras and Madurai Kamaraj University, came on a single platform here on Saturday to revive the Tamil Nadu Federation of University Faculty Associations (TANFUFA). A joint meeting of these associations was hosted by the Madurai Kamaraj University Faculty Association.

Addressing a press conference, S. Perumal, president, Madurai Kamaraj University Faculty Association (MUFA), said the draft contents of the Common University Act was against the democratic functioning of varsities.

He said the federation would strive for “democratising” the governance of universities and bring transparency in appointments. “We are particularly concerned that the Act is reducing the elected component of Senate members in universities and giving way to more government-nominated members,” Mr. Perumal said.

James William, national secretary, All India Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisations (AIFUCTO), said the unanimous opinion among faculty associations was that “there should not be political interference in the appointment of Vice-Chancellors.”

“There must be transparency in the appointment of Vice-Chancellors. The search committees constituted by either the Governor or the State Government must really look out for a good candidate instead of succumbing to political pressure,” Mr. James William said. Mr. James William also wanted the anomalies in the implementation of UGC Pay Review Committee recommendations removed. S. Krishnaswamy, general secretary, MUFA, and S. Vivekanandan, general secretary of MUTA, spoke.

The meeting also called for transparency in other appointments and in ‘financial management.’