December 15, 2025
Sougata Ray’s opposition to the introduction of The Vikshit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025
Sir, I want to oppose the introduction of the Bill.Sir, hon. Members, Shri Manish Tewari and Shri Premachandran have opposed the introduction of the Bill. But I first point out to the ineptness of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. We got a copy of the Bill late last night. Today in the List of Business, introduction of the Bill was not mentioned. The Supplementary List of Business was circulated at 1 o’clock this afternoon. Now, is this the way the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs functions where they do not even give us a chance to prepare for opposing the introduction? The main points opposing the introduction of the Bill have been mentioned by hon. Members Shri Manish Tewari and Shri N.K. Premachandran. The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 is an effort to centralize power in the Central Government’s hands with regard to educational matters. Earlier, the University Grants Commission used to decide on allocating funds for educational institutions, both universities and colleges. Now that is being taken over and subsumed in the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025. I do admit that under Article 66, the Centre has the power to legislate on the educational matters, though it is in the Concurrent List. This Entry 25 is subject to Entry 63 and 66 of List-I. So, Parliament cannot assume comprehensive control over State universities. We have so many State universities in West Bengal. The Parliament will have total power over them. They will appoint Vice-Chancellors and all that. As it is, the Governors in Kerala, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, are interfering with the functioning of the universities. Now this gives legitimate power to the Centre to control the functioning of the universities in higher education. This essentially undermines the autonomy and independence of statutory regulating body and checks on Executive power under Article 25. This Bill hence should not be brought. We oppose the introduction of the Bill. We oppose the ineptness, the failure of the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry. They do not even give us an opportunity to study a Bill before opposing its introduction. Sir, you are a learned man. You give a ruling on this. Let it be a historic ruling that this is not the way the Parliament should function.
