State to Wait Longer for Its Own University Act
The much-anticipated Uttarakhand State University Bill is facing further delays as the report from the select committee assigned to review it has not yet been submitted. The delay means that the state will have to wait longer for its own unified university legislation to come into effect.
Governor Objects to Vice-Chancellor Appointment Clause
The primary objection raised by the Raj Bhavan concerns the provision related to the appointment of Vice-Chancellors (VCs) in the bill. The Governor’s office is reportedly not in favor of reducing its authority in the appointment process, a key point in the current version of the legislation.
Select Committee Reviewing Controversial Provisions
The bill, which proposes an umbrella act to bring all state universities under a common legal framework, is currently being reviewed by a select committee chaired by Higher Education Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat. Other members of the committee include legislators Munna Singh Chauhan, Suresh Gadhia, Dr. Mohan Singh Bisht, Ravi Bahadur, Manoj Tiwari, and Mohammad Shahzad.
Consensus on Some Amendments Achieved
In its meetings so far, the committee has reached a consensus on amending certain aspects of the bill. However, the key issue of the VC appointment provision remains unresolved. The committee is expected to propose changes to address the Raj Bhavan’s concerns.
Bill Was Not Tabled During Budget Session
Despite expectations, the revised bill and committee report were not presented during the February Budget Session of the Legislative Assembly. As a result, further consideration of the bill will now be pushed to at least the next session.
Deliberations Still Ongoing
According to high-level sources, discussions are ongoing to find a balanced solution that satisfies all stakeholders. Until then, the implementation of the Uttarakhand State University Act remains on hold.
