autonomy and accountability of public univercities

Both Prof. Sathis Pande and former Vice Chancellor  of JNU ,in their interview with the Hindu have articulated and  shared few of the concerns the academic community  is having regarding the autonomy of the public universities  in the existing political scenario. It is a fact  that, In a nation like India where  considerable percentage of people remain  socially ,  economically and politically backward , higher education is the only resource available for distribution . Only if the universities are allowed to function with academic freedom,  they can create a reservoir  of “critical thinking” young minds who are very much  needed for the society and for their “upward mobility. If the function of  an  university is to create only degree holders, what difference is there between an eminent public or private university and open universities which conducts correspondence courses?   Encouraging questionings  minds, supporting free debates on matters of national importance  and  fearless expression of their opinion is the duty of the university academicians . To achieve this goal it is important that  persons of eminence are appointed as Vice chancellors and professors of Emeriti . To create hurdles  in the appointment process of these posts and humiliate persons with outstanding achievements and interfere in the day today affairs  of public universities due the habit of looking at everything from political angle  is not good for the healthy and vibrant functioning of the universities.  .