 ANNEXURES - 1
MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED BY THE A.I.U
 TO PRIME MINISTER

Some most disturbing trends adversely affecting the autonomy of the Indian Universities have dramatically come to surface in the recent times. The mass resignations of Vice-Chancellors in Bihar, and the suspension of a ViceChancellor in Rohtak symbolise the crisis in the autonomous governance of Indian universities, young and old. There has been in evidence in the state legislation a specific form of the erosion of the university autonomy through provisions subjecting the tenure of the high office of the ViceChancellor to the "Pleasure" of the Chancellor (e.g. Bihar and Karnataka).

The Association of Indian Universities at its Special General Body Meeting on January 8 and 9, 1986 resolved to bring these serious developments to the personal attention of the Hon'ble Prime Minister's positive views on depoliticization of the University campuses and on safeguarding university autonomy. We also note with satisfaction the emphasis placed, as a result of this, on "the creation of a spirit of autonomy for educational institutions" (para 10.1 of the National Policy on Education 1986).

With a view to helping the concretisation of this policy, and the Hon'ble Prime Minister's vision of university autonomy, the Association urges the Union Government to consider enacting a. legislation (now that Education is in the Concurrent List) assuring, among other things (a) functional autonomy for the Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors, (b) a uniform procedure for selection of Vice- Chancellors, (c) the provision for a. fixed tenure of office of the Vice-Chancellor, unhindered by the pleasure of the Chancellor and (d) the deletion of powers to suspend a. ViceChancellor whose term of office is in any case statutorily specified. In addition, there is need for such legislation to provide equitable and efficient norms for resource allocation, including the routine grants-in-aid to the universities, since the present diversity of discretionary funding procedures is also a potent and continuing source of frustration of university autonomy.

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The Association requests the Hon'ble Prime Minister to set up a. time- bound task force for the formulation of such central legislation. The Association, charged by charter to safeguard university autonomy, will be happy to assist the task force in all possible ways.

Sd/- Prof. S.V. Chittibabu

(President)

Vice-Chancellor

Annamalai University.

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ANNEXURES - 1 MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED BY THE A.I.U TO PRIME MINISTER