The Himachal Pradesh University Teachers' Welfare Association (HPUTWA) staged a protest against the Himachal Pradesh Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2026,
raising concerns over university autonomy, academic freedom and institutional functioning. The protest comes days after Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu introduced the amendment Bill in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on September 1. The proposed legislation provides for the recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff in government universities through state recruitment commissions. According to PTI, the government has said the amendment is aimed at ensuring transparency and merit-based selection in university recruitment. However, HPUTWA has opposed what it describes as increased government control over the functioning of universities. Addressing the protesters, HPUTWA president Prof Nitin Vyas said government interference would affect the rights and dignity of teachers as well as the institutional character of the university. Teachers Demand Protection Of University Autonomy Vyas said universities should function as centres of knowledge, research and democratic dialogue rather than being treated like government offices where decisions are taken through administrative files. He also raised concerns over the proposed bypassing of statutory university bodies, including the Academic Council and Executive Council. "Bypassing statutory bodies such as the Academic Council and Executive Council and imposing external control will undermine the institution's academic character," Vyas said, according to PTI. The teachers' body clarified that its opposition was not against accountability but against what it sees as excessive administrative control. Vyas said the government should instead focus on strengthening universities through adequate funding, modern laboratories, research grants, hostels, sports facilities and other infrastructure. "We are not against accountability, but we will not accept subservience in the name of accountability," he said. The association has warned that it could intensify its agitation if measures that it believes curtail university autonomy are pursued. The Himachal Pradesh Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2026, is therefore likely to remain a point of contention between the state government and university teachers, particularly over the balance between transparent recruitment and institutional autonomy. (With PTI Inputs)
