Higher Education Deptt prepares common statute for V-C’s removal

 

 

In a major development, the Higher and Technical Education Department of Maharashtra has introduced a common statute for initiating action against Vice-Chancellors (V-Cs) of the universities in State. According to highly placed sources, Governor of Maharashtra, who is also the Chancellor of the universities in State, has endorsed it. The experts say, it is just a part of process to be initiated. But some experts expressed surprise stating, why did the Government prepare a statute instead of making an amendment to the Maharashtra Public University Act, 2016? Reliable sources told ‘The Hitavada’ that in Maharashtra, some conflicts were witnessed between Vice-Chancellors and Higher and Technical Education Ministry, over the issue of the State Government being unable to initiate major action against the V-Cs.

 

As per the Act, only Chancellor has the power to remove the Vice-Chancellor after conducting proper procedure. The Minister does not have the power to take any strict action against Vice Chancellor. Considering this aspect, the Ministry has asked Higher and Technical Education Department to prepare a common statute. The Department prepared the statute a couple of days ago which has been endorsed by the Chancellor. The Department usually prepares several statutes to fix conditions and rules for the working of the authorities. As per the Act, the Chancellor is empowered to take action against V-Cs but the Minister does not have such powers.

 

Probably the Government wants power to remove a Vice-Chancellor for violation, the sources added. According to a former Vice-Chancellor, by virtue of the statute, the Government can not empower itself until the amendment is made to the Act. The Act is supreme which has already made a provision by which, Chancellor or Governor can remove Vice Chancellor, he added. As statute is signed by the Chancellor/Governor now the Gazette Notification is likely to be issued soon.