Union HRD minister Smriti Irani. Union HRD minister Smriti Irani.

As the Smriti Irani-led Human Resource Development Ministry tries to douse a controversy over observing December 25 as ‘Good Governance Day’ in schools, it has now emerged that higher education institutions, too, were asked to organise activities to mark the birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malaviya.

In a circular dated December 12 sent to vice-chancellors of all Central Universities, the ministry had asked them to mark the day by organising a seminar on “use of technology and innovations in promoting good governance” as well as an “oratory”. The ministry had also announced cash prizes of Rs 15,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 for winners of the oratory competition as well as prizes for those who gave “new ideas” in the seminar.

The ministry had also asked for “a compliance report on observance of Good Governance Day and on holding of oratory competition”. The circular clearly states the events “are to be organised” and does not mention they are voluntary.

However, following a controversy over the ministry’s December 9 circular to Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti and the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan to observe Good Governance Day on December 25, it has now backtracked on its circular to the Central Universities.

“I would request you to organise the seminar… and a competition on oratory in such manner that Christmas holidays are not disturbed. Therefore, celebrations relating to birth anniversary of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee may be completed prior to Christmas break by all Central Universities under their purview,” reads a new circular issued on December 15.

The Delhi University, meanwhile, issued a circular to all colleges under it on Monday, asking for the ministry’s instructions to be implemented and a compliance report submitted by December 29, which would be forwarded to the ministry by December 30. DU has winter break from December 20 to January 4 as per its academic calendar for the year.

“We will celebrate the day on December 24, but it will only be for teachers, since good governance is mainly about teachers. We have decided to organise some lectures on ‘paperless college’,” said S K Garg, principal of Deen Dayal Upadhyay College, adding that they are yet to receive the new order.

The ministry had also written to the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) on December 11, asking it to instruct all institutions under its purview to observe Good Governance Day.

Sources at IIT Delhi, too, confirmed they had received the ministry’s circular, but were “yet to discuss the details and what the plan for the day would be”.

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