UGC’s Oversight Powers
Regulation 10(1) provides for UGC’s Oversight Powers as follows:
10. Monitoring:
(1) The UGC shall establish a monitoring mechanism to review the progress made in achieving the objectives of these regulations and devise mechanisms for it, including calling for information from HEIs, visiting the campuses of HEIs, etc. Based on such a review, the UGC may advise the HEIs to take measures to achieve the objectives of these regulations, and the HEIs shall act accordingly.
This section gives the University Grants Commission (UGC) the direct authority to track how well colleges and universities are following these rules. The UGC can create its own methods for this “monitoring mechanism,” which includes the power to demand specific documents or information from any institution. They can even send officials to physically visit campuses to check the situation on the ground. If the UGC finds that a HEI is falling behind, it has the power to issue formal advice or instructions, and the institution is legally required to follow those directions.
As I have already said, that these rules are creating foundation of false cases. If HEI is having a bulk of false complaints filed by students, under influence and pressure of any staff or faculty member against any person or particular group of students, then what action UGC can take against such staff or faculty member? Regulations are silent on such influence or pressure. Even regulations are silent on the corruptions assigned in settlement of such matters.
National-Level Monitoring Committee
Regulation 10(2) provides for National-Level Monitoring Committee as follows:
(2) The UGC shall constitute a national-level monitoring committee having representatives of statutory professional councils and commissions and of civil society. The Committee shall oversee the implementation of these regulations and shall also look into the issues of discrimination and suggest means of its prevention in HEIs. The Committee shall meet at least twice a year.
The UGC is required to form a high-level national committee to oversee everything. This committee will be made up of representatives from various professional councils, government commissions, and members of civil society. Their job is not just to check if the rules are being followed, but also to study the broader issues of discrimination in higher education and recommend new ways to prevent it. This committee must meet at least twice every year to discuss their findings and progress. What is the use of such discussion, when it will not gain any fruit of unity of Indian society?
Mandatory Annual Reporting
Regulation 10(3) provides for Mandatory Annual Reporting as follows:
(3) Every HEI shall submit an annual report on the functioning of its Equal Opportunity Centre to the UGC, statutory professional council(s) or commission(s) concerned, Higher Education Department or Directorate of the State concerned, and to the affiliating university by the end of January every year for review.
Every Higher Education Institution (HEI) is required to be transparent about its activities. By the end of January every year, each school must submit a detailed annual report on how its Equal Opportunity Centre has been working. This report must be sent to four different authorities for review:
1. The University Grants Commission (UGC).
2. Any relevant statutory professional councils or commissions.
3. The state’s Higher Education Department or Directorate.
4. The university to which the college is affiliated.
This ensures that multiple layers of government are aware of exactly how the school is handling equity and discrimination.
Lot of paperwork had been done by government since independence, but no fruitful homegrown solution is ever given by any of the report to eradicate the discrimination problem from society. Even the so called anti-discrimination policies are creating more enmity on this or that basis in the society. Are these reports even contributing in balance of the society. Still we are following British policies in the name of cure.
You can send a representation to repeal these regulations by clicking the button below
