PAKA opposes GO on Seminar Regulations in Universities, calls it threat to Academic Autonomy

By OUR STAFF REPORTER

Dehradun, 15 May: The Provincial Aided Colleges Association (PAKA) has expressed strong opposition to the Government Order dated 6 May 2025, issued by the Department of Higher Education, Government of Uttarakhand. The order mandates prior government approval for organising seminars in universities and colleges, restricts participation only to faculty members of the subject concerned, and disqualifies participants from other disciplines from receiving valid certificates for the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS).

PAKA President Prof HS Randhawa and General Secretary Prof Prashant Singh have criticised the order, stating that it could negatively impact the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research culture in the universities and colleges of Uttarakhand. They highlighted several concerns:

1. Research is inherently multidisciplinary. In today’s world, most research problems are not confined to a single discipline. For example, addressing environmental issues requires collaboration between chemistry, biology, geography, sociology, and technology. Limiting seminar participation only to subject-specific faculty will obstruct innovation and collaborative research.
2. Mandatory government approval curtails academic freedom. Academic institutions enjoy a degree of academic autonomy. Requiring prior approval for every seminar weakens this autonomy and stifles the initiative and creativity of educators.
3. Restricting interdisciplinary participation reduces knowledge exchange and networking. Seminars are not only for knowledge enhancement but also for fostering dialogue among scholars from diverse fields. Such dialogue is crucial for integrative thinking and meaningful academic progress.
4. Denial of CAS recognition demotivates faculty. If faculty members from other disciplines are denied recognition for participation, they may avoid such events altogether, hampering their professional development and lowering the quality of teaching and research.

PAKA believes that this order is contrary to the principles of multidimensional research and educational innovation, as encouraged by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The President and General Secretary of PAKA have urged the government to reconsider the order and instead promote an environment conducive to interdisciplinary collaboration rather than restricting it.