In his letter, CM Siddaramaiah said the current draft regulations propose removing the state government's role in the selection of vice-chancellors and framing provisions that undermine the autonomy of universities established by state legislatures.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 7 to put the draft UGC regulations on hold and initiate broad-based consultations with states, academicians, and other stakeholders, asserting that it was essential to uphold the principles of cooperative federalism.
Congress General Secretary in-charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, stated that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to the Prime Minister regarding the UGC's draft regulations, highlighting that states and leaders across the country have united in opposition to these "anti-federal and anti-democratic regulations." He added, "The ball is now in the Union government's court — will they sacrifice the quality of higher education and undermine federalism for political gains, or will they listen to the voice of the people?"
In his letter to Modi, Siddaramaiah expressed concerns that the draft regulations propose removing the state government's role in selecting vice-chancellors and include provisions that threaten the autonomy of universities established by state legislatures.
"I write to express my deep concerns regarding the Draft Regulations on Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education, 2025, issued under the UGC Act, 1956," the Karnataka chief minister said.
"While we all uphold the importance of maintaining high standards in higher education, it is imperative to recognise that the Constitution of India provides a clear framework for the roles and responsibilities of the Union and state governments in this domain," he said. Siddaramaiah said entry 66 of the Union List empowers the Centre to coordinate and determine standards in higher education, but this must not be stretched to exclude states from their rightful role in the governance of universities established under state laws.
With inputs from PTI.