The UGC was created in part to ensure that public university hiring be kept above politics. There have been allegations of irregularity in its functioning that need to be addressed and there is much room for improvement in how the UGC allocates teaching positions.

If one thing in this country should be decided on a non-partisan basis it is the hiring of educators, especially as university appointments have in the past been blighted by political considerations.

Public university appointments must not only be kept above politics, but also be seen to have been so done. Requiring the PM's approval for filling vacancies could be perceived in a way which one would have thought is sought to be avoided.

It is not even clear whether the new rule is consistent with the autonomy of the public universities guaranteed under the Public Universities Act, 1973.

Nor can the addition of a layer of bureaucracy be expected to expedite the hiring process. One of principal complaints against the UGC was that it moved too slowly and many vacancies were left unfilled. In addition to the UGC, hiring requires the approval of the education ministry, the finance ministry, and now the PM. This can only be expected to increase the delay in filling vacancies.

No one wants university appointments to be politicised. This should be a non-partisan issue on which every person of sense agrees. If the UGC is underperforming, then it can be reformed. But there is no doubt that an independent functioning body is what is needed to oversee public university appointments.