Uday Samant advocates the Maharashtra Public University Act modification

On Sunday, Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant claimed that misunderstandings about the Maharashtra Public University Act 2016, (Third Amendment) Bill, which was passed in both houses of the state legislature during the recently concluded winter session amid controversy over the state government's proposal to limit the Governor's powers in the appointment of Vice-Chancellors and other provisions, were being spread. Following a storm of criticism from the BJP and protests from a number of experts, Samant clarified his position. The bill's opponents, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), argue that it diminishes the Governor's powers and will lead to more political intervention in university governance.

'The Governor's powers are not diminished in any manner by the modification to the Act. After analysing laws adopted by other states, the bill was proposed to amend the Act," stated Samant. The bill, he noted, empowers the minister to make recommendations to the Governor, who is also the university chancellor. He went on to say that the change aims to improve the current process for appointing Vice-Chancellors of State Universities.

The draught also proposes the appointment of the Minister of Higher and Technical Education as Pro-Chancellor of universities, according to Samant. Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellors of State Agriculture Universities, Divisional Commissioners and District Collectors will meet in the next two days to decide whether to keep the universities and colleges open or close them due to an increase in COVID-19 cases across the state, according to Samant.

Image Courtesy: Twitter@samant_uday