the goan I network
PANAJI
The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Thursday raised strong objections to the Goa University Act being amended to allow Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to become the pro-chancellor at the university.
Addressing the press at the Congress headquarters, GPCC chief Girish Chodankar said that if the CM occupied such a position in the University, it would take away the free and autonomous spirit of the University.
Further, Chodankar said that it appeared odd that the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of GU had put forward a proposal to make Sawant pro-chancellor.
“The role of the VC country-wide is to protect, and strengthen the autonomy of the university. This is his biggest role as VC “ to protect the University from political interference, and pressure,” Chodankar said, maintaining that the moment a political figure came on the scene, it would be the start of the ruin of the University.
Further lashing out at the the Vice-Chancellor, Chodankar said, “It is very bad for the educational institute that the VC himself has sought this role of the CM in university affairs. The appointment of this VC appears to have been a big mistake, if he can’t even maintain the GU’s autonomy.”
Chodankar pointed out that there were over 900 other universities in India, out of which 399 were state universities and, the party had found out that not a single prominent university has appointed the state’s CM as pro-chancellor.
“Even universities that have pro-chancellors have educationists occupying the position and not politicians,” Chodankar said.
Besides, the GPCC chief said that with the CM occupying a position at the University, debate at the university would not be free, fair and of quality.
“Academic discussions will no longer be academic, but popularity contests,” he said, insisting that the standard of the university would drop if indeed the Chief Minister became pro-chancellor.
