Stalin: Will fight legally against 'anti-federal' UGC draft rules

CHENNAI: Terming draft UGC Regulations 2025 as an assault on federalism, Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin on Tuesday criticised the Centre for granting governors broader control over vice-chancellor's appointment and allowing non-academicians to hold VC posts.

"This overreach is unacceptable. Tamil Nadu will fight it legally and politically," he said. The draft regulations say the chancellor shall constitute a search-cum-selection committee comprising a governor's nominee who shall be the chairperson of the committee, a nominee of UGC chairman, and a nominee of the apex body of the university such as syndicate/senate/executive council/board of management/equivalent body. Currently, state nominates its members to the committee. "Tamil Nadu, which leads the nation with the highest number of top-ranking HEIs, will not stay silent as our institutions are stripped of autonomy," he said.