MUTA Sounds Alarm Over Tamil Nadu’s Private Universities Amendment Bill

The Madurai Kamaraj, Manonmaniam Sundaranar, Mother Teresa, Alagappa, Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Education and Anna University Teachers’ Association (MUTA) has formally objected to the Tamil Nadu Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, which recently passed in the State Legislative Assembly on October 17, 2025. MUTA highlighted that while the original 2019 Act already paved the way for new private universities, the current 2025 amendment is far more concerning. Ironically, the DMK, now in power, had vehemently opposed the 2019 legislation when they were in opposition. The association firmly believes that this amendment is a calculated move to privatize government-aided colleges, transforming public assets, sustained by state grants, into private enterprises. This shift is expected to profoundly impact students, most notably by dismantling the system of free education currently enjoyed in government-aided colleges, mirroring the benefits of government institutions. “The amendment would first and foremost deny students the opportunity to pursue studies under the free education policy,” the statement warned. Furthermore, MUTA lamented that educational institutions, originally established by benevolent philanthropists to serve the underprivileged and marginalized, are now at risk of becoming mere commercial ventures. “Not only will the free education system be abolished, but student fees will also skyrocket, rendering higher education an impossible dream for many. Crucial opportunities like reservation-based admissions, scholarships, and various other benefits, typically available in government colleges, will vanish. This legislation is a grave threat to social justice,” the statement asserted. The MUTA also pointed out other detrimental effects, including a severe lack of transparency in administration, the erosion of admission policies based on merit and social justice, the legitimization of exorbitant fee structures by private institutions, the discontinuation of courses for commercial gain, and a potential reversal of the state’s commendable average in higher education enrollment. The association emphasized that the amendment would also undermine the respectful and equitable treatment of teachers and employees in both government and government-aided colleges. “Teacher and employee appointments will be left entirely to the discretion of private management, devoid of any regulatory oversight, and the job security of existing teachers in government-aided colleges will be severely compromised,” MUTA charged. It further highlighted that the amendment would effectively nullify the Private College Regulation Act of 1976, originally designed to govern the service conditions of educators and staff. “There will be no reservations for teacher and employee appointments. The direct salary system for aided teachers and employees, a right earned through significant struggles by the working class, will be abolished,” the statement detailed. Teachers feared that a multitude of their rights and benefits, including medical leave, earned leave, commuted leave, dearness allowance, pension, family pension, and medical insurance, could be stripped away. The statement also drew attention to the significant infrastructure in government-aided colleges, built with financial aid from the University Grants Commission and other State and Union Government schemes, which would be transferred to private control. “It is an unacceptable injustice to transfer national wealth—developed with taxpayer money from both Union and State Governments, as well as the public—along with invaluable human capital, including the research, discoveries, and copyrights of experienced teachers and Ph.D. scholars, into private hands,” the association passionately argued. In conclusion, MUTA vehemently condemned the proposed amendment as anti-social justice and implored the Tamil Nadu Government to withdraw the Bill, which they believe poses a threat to students, teachers, employees, and society at large.