The University Grants Commission, the regulatory body for central universities in the country, is working without a full time chairman for the past over nine months and an appointment to the post isn’t likely soon.
Sources stated that the Union human resources development ministry has been unable to finalise a candidate for the position despite an ongoing process for searching a suitable candidate for the position.
Prof. Ved Prakash has been holding the charge of the UGC chairman’s post ever since the Sukhdeo Thorat stepped down after end of his tenure earlier this year.
It is also understood that the government is going slow on the issue as the HRD ministry awaits the implementation of National Council for Higher Education and Research Bill, which aims to subsume the UGC and other regulatory bodies in the education sector. “Once the NCHER becomes operational, the relevance of UGC will diminish to a great extent,” sources pointed out. The HRD ministry is likely to table the NCHER Bill 2011 in Parliament during the upcoming winter session which is scheduled to begin from December 22.
Sources stated that the UGC’s functioning has been adversely affected as it has been operating without a full-time chairman.
It was pointed out that for several important decisions the commission has to take the “advice” of the ministry instead of resolving the matter on its own.
However, official sources in the HRD ministry maintained that the post of the UGC chairman is likely to be filled soon. “The process to appoint a chairman of the commission is on as a committee is short listing candidates for the position. A decision on the issue is expected soon,” sources added.