UGC extends college principals' tenure from 5 to 10 yrs

Says it's not a mandatory rule but applies to fixed term posts

College principals can now have a 10-year fixed term in their offices with the University Grants Commission (UGC) approving a proposal to amend its regulations which had limited their tenure to just five years on appointment from 2010.

The decision, taken at a meeting of the higher education regulator here last week, has called for an amendment to the UGC (Minimum qualifications for appointment of teachers, other academic staff in universities and colleges and other measures for the maintenance of standards in higher education) Regulations, 2010.

“The commission approved the proposal to extend the tenure, wherever applicable, of the principal from 5 years to 10 years,” UGC sources said.

The decision follows recommendation of a committee set up by the UGC a few years back which favoured increasing the tenure of college principals from five to 10 years to allow states and universities recruit “young and dynamic” people to the position.

At present, principals are appointed for five years and are eligible to be reappointed for one more term.

“The basic objective is to allow states and varsities appoint more young people to the pivotal post. Those deserving should not be unduly excluded on the account of their age and experience, UGC sources added.

The 10-year term of college principals will not be mandatory for all institutions. “It will be applicable to those states and institutions where term of a principal is fixed. There are many states where there is no such concept. So it is basically for the states to decide whether they want to have 10-year term of a college principal or five-year,” sources said.  
The UGC move is set to draw flak from the teaching community.  When contacted, the Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) vice-president said he was not sure whether any such decision was taken.

“DUTA has always been against such proposals and would continue to oppose it, if UGC has decided to go ahead (with fixed tenures for principals),” he told Deccan Herald.
Reiterating The DUTA’s stand on the issue, he said a 10- year fixed term will be
detrimental to the interest of colleges, their teachers and students.

“A fixed term of 10 years will make college principals more autocratic. We have always opposed such a suggestion. There was no need to do away with the five year term with eligibility for re-appointment on the basis of their performance,” he added.