Sudhanshu Sharma
Shimla
The Himachal Pradesh University Teachers’ Welfare Association (HPUTWA) staged a protest today against the proposed bill that seeks to change the recruitment process in six state universities by routing faculty appointments through the Public Service Commission. Senior professors and faculty members participated in the demonstration, voicing strong opposition to the move.
Addressing the gathering, HPUTWA President Prof. Nitin Vyas expressed deep concern over the proposed legislation, calling it a serious threat to the autonomy, institutional identity, and academic freedom of universities. He said that recruitment is an integral part of university autonomy, and placing it under external control would undermine the future of higher education institutions.
Prof. Vyas warned that increased dependence on external approvals for both strategic and routine academic decisions could lead to unnecessary delays, reduced flexibility, and diminished faculty participation in institutional governance — ultimately affecting teaching, research, and innovation.
HPUTWA emphasized that autonomy and accountability are not contradictory. Any allegations of irregularities should be addressed through fair investigation, audits, and evidence-based evaluation rather than curbing the powers of all autonomous universities. The association cautioned that such measures could be based on preconceived notions rather than facts.
The protest also highlighted the ongoing struggle for the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS), linking it to the broader issue of academic dignity and institutional independence. Speakers noted that undermining autonomy and ignoring academic qualifications like Ph.D., research publications, and scholarly contributions would devalue higher education itself.
HPUTWA Secretary Dr. Ankush Bhardwaj reiterated that the issue concerns not just one university but the entire higher education system. He urged all teachers and staff to unite and defend their rights through democratic and constitutional means.
