Central rules will harm freedom of universities: Minister R Bindu

KOCHI: Higher Education Minister R Bindu did not directly comment on the central move to amend the UGC rules to ensure the chancellor post to Governor. We can think about it when the law comes. At the same time, the centralization of laws in the education sector will be a blow to the freedom of universities, the Minister said at the Ernakulam Press Club's Meet the Press.

"The UGC norms relating to universities are only guidelines. The government will join as a party to Dr Rajasree's review petition against the Supreme Court order sacking her from the post of the Vice Chancellor of the Technical University. I disagree with the court's observation that there is no UGC representative in the search committee. The government is of the view that AICTE is the authority of technical studies. The Vice-Chancellor was selected by a committee consisting of representatives of the committee," the minister said.

"The complaint that the employees are not cooperating with the new Vice Chancellor of the Technical University has not come to my notice. Will take necessary action if notified by the Vice Chancellor. Several students are going abroad on the basis of social myths. Not everyone has the best living conditions there. We will take steps to make Kerala a centre of excellence in higher education," she added.