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A news report claiming that the Kerala government has amended the University Laws Bill and has prohibited teachers from speaking against the state government while allowing them to freely express their views against the Union government, has led to outrage against the CPI(M)-led state government.
“A key provision of the bill prohibits university and college teachers from engaging in activities that criticise state laws and university policies. While criticism of central government laws and policies remains permissible, this selective restriction has drawn criticism for potentially curbing free expression within academic settings,” the article reads.
The news article triggered a political debate on social media, pointing out the alleged hypocrisy of the Kerala government.
However, Kerala’s Higher Education Minister slammed the news article’s interpretation, terming it a “distortion.”
Speaking to TNM, the Higher Education Minister R Bindu said that the word ‘State’ in the bill refers to the country, not Kerala state.
“We are allowing the teachers organisational freedom, not prohibiting their rights. I also noticed the distorted news spreading. State law should be interpreted as laws that exist in the country, not in the state of Kerala,” she explained.
While mentioning the rights and responsibilities of teachers, the bill states, ‘Teachers or their groups or organisations may distribute and display written or printed or electronic material on campus without prior approval of the University so long as the distributed material is consistent with University policy and State law. The person or persons responsible for such material must be clearly indicated.”
The Minister said that this provision was added to give freedom to the teachers to freely express their views. “At many universities, including JNU, the teachers must obtain prior permission from the administration to conduct a strike. We added this clause to prevent similar issues in Kerala in the future,” she said.
The Kerala University Law (Amendment) Bill 2025 seeks to increase the powers vested in university pro-chancellors, pro-vice-chancellors and registrars. The pro-chancellor is the minister in charge of the higher education department. The bill, passed by the assembly, is currently under consideration by the Governor.
The bill gives pro-chancellors power to preside over university senate meetings and convocations in the absence of the chancellor and request any information on university academic and administrative affairs. Pro-chancellors will have the right to raise any matters they consider important or those related to government policy to the attention of the chancellor or university authorities and request appropriate action.
The bill has faced criticism that it gives too much power to pre-chancellors. But the minister rejected this criticism.
“Earlier, it did not mention what the pro-chancellor can do, instead, it mentions only in a line that, in the absence of the chancellor, the pro-chancellor can do all things mentioned. Now, we have clearly outlined what are the things a pro-chancellor can do. Apart from making it clearer, we didn’t additionally add anything,” she added.