Apolitical persons from education can hold post

Rules for college governing body president post changed

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Aug 23: The Department of Higher Education has barred political persons and persons not from the field of education from holding the post of college governing body president in the State.

In a notification issued on August 18, 2017 the department has spelt it out in no uncertain terms that a person holding the post of a college governing body should be an apolitical person who is or was associated in the field of education. The notification has also said that the person heading a college government body as its president cannot contest any election, including panchayat and civic body poll, nor can he have affiliation as a member of any political party, let alone becoming its office-bearer.

College governing body presidents, according to the notification, will now be appointed by the Director of Higher Education for a term of five years. The Director of Higher Education has the power of removing the president of any college governing body before the completion of his/her term recording the reason for removal in writing. A college governing body president, however, will continue to hold his/her office till the successor is appointed.

This notification has been issued following a Cabinet decision taken recently. The Cabinet has changed the terms and conditions under (3) and (4) of the office memorandum AHE 331/2008/33 of July 9, 2009 and AHE 331/2008/52 of November 5, 2014 regarding the constitution of college governing bodies in the State and appointing of their presidents.

The notification sounds pleasant as on now. The question that remains is: will the rules as stated in the notification be followed in the State. Such a question arises as the proverbial saying ‘rules are meant to be violated’ holds much water in many states in India, including Assam.