He went on to say, “it is very strange and unfortunate that the Tamil Nadu Government (through Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education) has recently ordered all the universities and autonomous colleges in the state to implement a common curriculum from this academic year. The move is highly dictatorial, derogatory and detrimental to the quality of education, research and innovation in higher education in the state. It is a direct infringement on the rights and freedom of autonomous institutions. Moreover, the common syllabus prescribed by TANSCHE compromised the quality of education as it is far below the expected level and needs of 21st century stakeholders. Role of State Council for Higher EducationIt appears that neither the Minister for Higher Education nor the Members of the Council have understood the role of the State Council for Higher Education. State Councils of Higher Education were established in all the states in India as per the National Policy on Education of 1986 with a whole purpose of overseeing the implementation of UGC guidelines in the universities and colleges. And therefore, the council hasno power or authority to direct the universities or autonomous colleges to implement its decisions or the whimsical views of the state government or the minister.Autonomy of UniversitiesUniversities, as autonomous institutions, have their own academic and decision making bodies to decide about all the matters related to academic and administration. They have absolute academic freedom and right to restructure, redesign and prescribe their own courses of study and syllabi and also evolve their own instructional and evaluation processes. Universities are not bound to implement the decisions of TANSCHE. The very idea of imposing common curriculum is an act of violation of the basic principles and powers of autonomy. It will adversely dampen the spirit of healthy competition among the institutions and perhaps affect their NAAC and NIRF rankings. Deaf and Dumb Vice ChancellorsVice Chancellors are custodians of universities and are supposed to protect the academic freedom and administrative rights of their universities from the onslaught of politicians and other external forces. It was really amusing to see that the Vice Chancellors were keeping mum when the minister of higher education was bombarding them in a recent meeting and finally directed them to implement the common curriculum. Not one of them raised any objection to whatever the minister said. It is really unfortunate that most Vice Chancellors become ‘Deaf and Dumb’in the presence of the minister.The primary concern of Vice Chancellors should be the quality of education and research as well ast he welfare of students and teachers, “ said Prof E Balagurusamy