India

Vice Chancellors & Academicians Seek Action Against Rahul Gandhi; Know Why

By
OB Bureau

New Delhi: Vice-chancellors of prestigious universities and academicians have not taken kindly to Rahul Gandhi’s “baseless allegations” during Lok Sabha election campaigning that vice-chancellors are picked solely on the basis of affiliation with some organisations, instead of merit and qualification. They have written an open letter, “categorically and unequivocally discarding” the allegation. The signatories, including 181 current and former VCs, alongwith heads of regulatory authorities such as the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), have sought action against Gandhi.

“It has come to our notice from tweet and open sources of Shri Rahul Gandhi, Congress Leader, that appointment of Vice Chancellors is made solely on the basis of affiliation with some organisation rather than on the basis of merit and qualification thereby questioning the merit of the process through which the Vice Chancellors are appointed. We categorically and unequivocally discard such claims,” it said.

“In view of the fact that Shri Rahul Gandhi has resorted to falsehood and has defamed the Office of the Vice Chancellors at large with the intent to derive the political mileage out of it. It is therefore, earnestly prayed that appropriate action be taken against him forthwith in accordance with law,” the VCs said.

Reacting to it, UP Congress President Ajay Rai said, “The vice-chancellors are not being appointed on their calibre and experience, but on the number of days they have worked for the ‘sangh’. Such Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers will never have transparency. They will never be loyal, true to education,” News18 reported.

Among the signatories are incumbent VCs from institutions including Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, MS University, Baroda, Central University of Haryana, Mahendragarh, North East Hill University, Shillong, the president of the Association of Indian Universities, the chairperson of AICTE, former chairperson of University Grants Commission (UGC), and the director of National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), among others.

The letter stated that the process by which “vice-chancellors are selected is characterised by stringent, transparent rigorous procedure grounded on values of meritocracy, scholarly distinction and integrity”.

“The selection has been completely based on academic and administrative prowess and with a vision to take universities ahead. The array of academic disciplines and professional experiences represented amongst us stands as evidence of the unbiased and inclusive nature of the selection procedure. It reflects our dedication to cultivating an atmosphere that values and promotes diversity, encourages independent thinking, and supports scholastic achievement,” it states.

The V-Cs further wrote: “In our capacity as guardians of knowledge and administrators of academia, we maintain an unwavering commitment to maintaining the utmost levels of governance integrity, ethical behaviour, and institutional integrity. We encourage productive discourse and active participation from all relevant stakeholders, as we collaboratively strive to define the trajectory of Higher education in our country. We strongly urge all individuals involved to exercise discernment in distinguishing fact from fiction, to abstain from spreading unfounded rumours, and to participate in dialogue that is well-informed, constructive, and supportive of our shared goal of creating a dynamic and inclusive educational environment. We would like to reaffirm our steadfast dedication to the principles of meritocracy, integrity, and excellence within the realm of higher education.”

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Waqf Bill, 14 Others Listed For Winter Session Of Parliament

New Delhi: The BJP-led NDA government will introduce 15 bills, including one to amend the…

November 21, 2024

Newborn Sold In Odisha’s Balangir Traced To Raipur Hospital In Chhattisgarh

Bhubaneswar: A newborn baby, who was allegedly sold by her parents in Odisha's Balangir district,…

November 21, 2024

Two More Exit Polls Predict A Mahayuti Win In Maharashtra Elections; Check Here

Mumbai: Exit polls have given Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance an edge in the neck-to-neck…

November 21, 2024

Orissa HC Issues Interim Stay On Demolition Of Baikuntha Dham Ashram In Bhubaneswar

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has put the BDA's order for demolition of controversial Shree…

November 21, 2024

Sunita Williams Feasts On Pizza, Roast Chicken & Shrimp Cocktails But Little Fresh Food Left

New York: Amid reports of deteriorating health of astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, it…

November 21, 2024

This Actor Surpasses Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan To Become Most Popular Male Film Star

Mumbai: South superstar Prabhas has surpassed Bollywood King Khan Shah Rukh and ‘Dabangg’ Salman Khan…

November 21, 2024

10 Arrested For Attack On BJP MLA Himanshu Sahoo In Odisha’s Jajpur

Jajpur: Police on Thursday arrested 10 persons in connection with the alleged attack on MLA…

November 21, 2024

6 Get Life Term For Raping Woman In Odisha 5 Years Ago

Bhawanipatna: Five year after the rape of a woman, Dharamgarh Additional District and Session court…

November 21, 2024