A collective of 181 academicians, comprised of vice-chancellors and former VCs, have come together to condemn Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that he disseminated false information regarding the appointment procedures for university leadership.
In an open letter, these educators denounced Gandhi's assertions and called for legal measures to address what they perceive as defamation against the Office of the Vice Chancellors, allegedly motivated by political considerations.
The letter, as reported by PTI, underscores the academics' strong rebuttal of Gandhi's assertions that vice-chancellors are appointed based on affiliations with select organizations rather than merit. Prominent signatories to the letter include Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, Delhi University VC Yogesh Singh, and AICTE Chairman TG Sitharam, among others.
According to the academicians, the process of selecting vice-chancellors is rigorous, transparent, and grounded in values of meritocracy, scholarly distinction, and integrity. They emphasized that appointments are made solely on academic and administrative prowess, with a forward-looking vision to propel universities towards excellence.
While Gandhi's specific claims were not quoted in the letter, the Congress leader has previously suggested that affiliations with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) influence academic appointments. The signatories represent a diverse range of institutions across India, including CSJM University Kanpur, Pacific University Udaipur, and Mahatma Gandhi Gramodaya Vishvavidyalaya Chitrakoot, among others.
The academics highlighted the transformative strides made by Indian universities, citing improved global rankings, accreditations, research outputs, curriculum enhancements, and increased industry-academia collaboration. They emphasized the inclusive and unbiased nature of the selection process, which they believe fosters diversity, independent thinking, and scholastic achievement.
The letter unequivocally condemns Gandhi's alleged dissemination of falsehoods and calls for legal action against him, citing defamation of the Office of the Vice Chancellors. The academics reaffirmed their commitment to governance integrity, ethical behavior, and institutional excellence as custodians of knowledge and administrators of academia.
Urging discernment and responsible discourse, the academics emphasized the importance of distinguishing fact from fiction and fostering constructive dialogue to advance shared goals of creating a dynamic and inclusive educational ecosystem.
The letter marks a robust defense of the integrity of the vice-chancellor selection process against perceived political manipulations, underscoring the commitment of academic leaders to uphold standards of meritocracy and governance transparency in India's higher education sector.