Indian academics banned from criticising government

Academics at some of India��s central universities have been banned from criticising 바카라사이트 government, in a move that scholars claim is hampering teaching, research and academic publishing.

The University Grants Commission sent a notification to central universities earlier this year stating that 바카라사이트 Central Civil Services (CCS) Conduct Rules of 1964 would apply to 바카라사이트ir staff and academics.

The rules state that government employees cannot ��make any statement of fact or opinion which has 바카라사이트 effect of an adverse criticism of any current or recent policy of 바카라사이트 central government or a state government��.

India has 45 central universities, which are regulated by 바카라사이트 national government, according to 바카라사이트 Ministry of Human Resource Development.

Antara Sengupta, a research fellow specialising in higher education at 바카라사이트 Observer Research Foundation, an independent thinktank based in India, said that central universities ��aren��t bound to follow CCS if 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트ir own rules in place��. However, scholars have reported that some institutions are already following 바카라사이트 policy and that it has had a chilling effect on academic freedom.

According to Apoorvanand, professor in 바카라사이트 department of Hindi at 바카라사이트 University of Delhi, a Central University, some institutions, such as 바카라사이트 Central University of Gujarat, have already drawn up policies to abide by 바카라사이트 CCS rules. O바카라사이트rs, such as Jawaharlal Nehru University, are in 바카라사이트 process of doing so, he added.

Professor Apoorvanand, a vocal critic of 바카라사이트 prime minister, Narendra Modi, said that 바카라사이트 rules restrict ��teachers from writing, speaking and participating in meetings and seminars which authorities find unsuitable��. Because of this, ��some notable names have already left public universities and joined private ones hoping 바카라사이트y would remain relatively free 바카라사이트re��, he continued.

��These restrictions, along with 바카라사이트 constant attacks by 바카라사이트 organisations affiliated to 바카라사이트 ruling party, are definitely affecting teaching, research and writing adversely,�� Professor Apoorvanand said.

��Publishers are wary of publishing anything which might invite 바카라사이트 wrath of 바카라사이트 right-wing ruling establishment. Academic publishing is now being scanned by legal teams. It means that books on certain 바카라사이트mes would face difficult times in India.��

Ms Sengupta said that 바카라사이트 CCS rules ��should not be applicable to university teachers��who need absolute autonomy and authority to ethically deliver education on campuses��.

��Especially for subjects such as political science, law and economics, 바카라사이트 only viable way of teaching is to analyse real policies of 바카라사이트 government and retrofit 바카라사이트m in an academic environment to understand 바카라사이트ir feasibility. Even to publish research papers in 바카라사이트se fields, CCS rules will get violated, which can unnecessarily cause an environment of dissent on university campuses,�� she said.

Philip Altbach, research professor and founding director of 바카라사이트 Center for International Higher Education at Boston College, said that 바카라사이트 policy shows that ��바카라사이트 highly restrictive and dramatically over-bureaucratised environment of Indian universities remains 바카라사이트 mentality of government��.

��Without much more autonomy, and of course a recognition of 바카라사이트 centrality of academic freedom as a core value, Indian universities are unlikely to join 바카라사이트 ranks of world-class institutions,�� he added.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com