TNR News Network
Shimla
The Himachal Pradesh University Teachers’ Welfare Association (HPUTWA) has announced a peaceful march on September 25, 2026, at the Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) campus. Participants will wear black ribbons as a symbol of commitment to university autonomy, academic freedom, and institutional dignity.
The march comes in response to the Himachal Pradesh State University (Amendment) Bill, 2026, passed by the Assembly on September 2. While the government has described the bill as a step toward transparency, merit-based recruitment, and financial discipline, the academic community has raised concerns about its impact on institutional autonomy and subject-expert-driven decision-making.
HPUTWA leaders — President Nitin Vyas, Vice President Dr. Yograj, Secretary Dr. Ankush Bhardwaj, and Joint Secretary Dr. Anjali Sharma — have called upon all teachers, non-teaching staff, research scholars, and students to join the march. They emphasized that autonomy and accountability must go hand in hand, and that academic processes such as faculty recruitment require subject expertise, research credentials, and scholarly evaluation.
The association clarified that the march is not directed against any individual or institution but is a democratic expression of support for academic and institutional independence. The black ribbon, they said, symbolizes peaceful resistance and a collective voice for safeguarding the future of higher education in Himachal Pradesh.
HPUTWA reiterated that universities are not merely administrative bodies but centers of knowledge, research, innovation, and free thought. Protecting their autonomy is essential not only for the present generation but also for ensuring quality education and academic freedom for generations to come.
