Maharaja’s may miss autonomy bus

The Ernakulam Maharaja’s College seems to have missed the opportunity to obtain the autonomous status. Meanwhile, UGC seeks explanation on protests against autonomy proposal.

The Maharaja`s College, Ernakulam, is one of the best and biggest centers of learning and higher education in the State of Kerala. Photo: H.Vibhu.

The Ernakulam Maharaja’s College seems to have missed the opportunity to obtain the autonomous status.

Hopes that the University Grants Commission (UGC) would permit a fresh inspection of the institution by an expert committee in this academic year have been dashed.

The Hindu has reliably learnt that there is no word on a second round of inspection in the latest communication from the apex body to the State Higher Education Department.

Instead, the commission has sought an explanation on the opposition to the autonomous college proposal among a section of the teachers and students on the campus.

Police had removed agitating students who tried to enter the Principal’s room when the expert committee members were holding discussions with college representatives as part of its visit in April. The UGC had pointed out that the inspection by the expert committee was not satisfactory.

The Higher Education Department has submitted a detailed reply to the letter from the commission elaborating on the misconceptions regarding autonomy existing among a section of the stakeholders. Senior officials have also apprised the commission on the political reasons behind the opposition against autonomous colleges in the State. In its reply to the commission, the college management said that the expert committee could not visit all the facilities on the campus as many classrooms at Maharaja’s were used to store the Electronic Voting Machines for the Lok Sabha elections. Several policemen were also then posted on duty as part of the security measures ahead of counting.

Maharaja’s has missed the bus at a time when three educational institutions including St.Teresa’s College, Sacred Heart College, and Rajagiri College in the district got the green signal for autonomous status.