Easing the way for appointing Ombudsperson at higher education institutes, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has revised the criteria of appointing a retired judge not below the rank of the district judge for it.
As per the new draft regulation, the commission has revamped the criteria. Widening the eligibility for the post, now, any retired vice chancellor, registrar or faculty member, with an experience of at least 10 years can be appointed as the Ombudsperson.
The draft proposal is available on the Commission’s website inviting recommendations from the general public, which can be submitted till December 31 this year.
According to the UGC (Grievance Redressal) Regulations 2012, it is must for all higher education institutes to appoint an ombudsperson for redressing grievances of students. But a superficial survey reveals that none of the central universities, at least in Delhi, has this figure to arbitrate as an impartial authority. Even if they have, they have been appointed against the eligibility criteria.
The 2012 regulations, as do the latest, issued last week, stipulate that the ombudsperson must not hold, or have held, any office of profit in the university where he or she is appointed.
