Nalanda University’s chancellor George Yeo had recently
resigned from his post, because government had dissolved the previous governing
board of the university without taking him into confidence. Regarding this,
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has written a 2 page letter to External Affairs Minister
Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, stating that the NDA government should not change the
motive behind the idea of establishing the new Nalanda. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar
was not happy with this step and said that center needs to consult with all the
members of distinguished academicians and stakeholders before taking such a decision.
Nitish Kumar said that Centre should keep in mind that how state
government has decided to recreate the Nalanda university fame as it was in the
ancient times and establish a new Nalanda university in Bihar.
In 2007 Bihar government enacted a state law on Nalanda
University and requested the Central government to take control of the
university. “In 2010 when Central Act on
Nalanda University was passed, all powers were transferred to central
government”, stated Nitish Kumar.
George yeo stated that central government is interfering and
affecting the autonomy of the university.
When the decision of dissolving the previous governing board was taken he
was not informed about it. According to
Nitish, such an important decision was taken without informing the chancellor,
raising a question on the autonomous behavior of the university.
On 25th November, George yeo submitted his resignation
letter to the president Pranab Mukherjee, when NDA government decided to cancel
the extension of time tenure of the vice chancellor Gopa Sabharwal.
Nitish, stated in his letter, that provisions concerned with
the formulation of the governing body in the Nalanda University Act, 2010, were
flawed and the central government wanted to amend the Act. "Therefore, the
centre had requested the 'Nalanda Mentor Group' to continue functioning as the
'governing board' till the said Act could be amended. So far, there has been no
amendment in the Act and yet a new governing body has been constituted by the
centre without due consultation. This has affected the prestige and credibility
of the university," Bihar CM said. Further, he added that the University
will develop and flourish only if academic autonomy is
allowed.
Tags: Nalanda University
George Yeo
Nalanda University Act
2010
Nitish Kumar
