Attempt to Make HMV College Autonomous Driven by personal Interests, Alleges HMV Unit 

Punjab News: The HMV Unit of the Punjab Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union has alleged that the attempt to make Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya (HMV) autonomous is motivated by the personal interests of the principal. According to the union, the principal is pushing for autonomy in order to extend her tenure of service.

Union office-bearers and members have appealed to Padma Shri Poonam Suri, President of the DAV Managing Committee, and the entire management to keep a prestigious institution like HMV away from policies such as autonomy.

HMV is a distinguished institution that has made history by earning an A++ grade thrice in succession. Opposing the current move, the union stated that in autonomous institutions, the examination system restricts students to a single campus, thereby reducing their ability to compete with students from other institutions.

They also highlighted that academic processes like the Board of Studies and examination-related expenditures would increase, leading to a likely rise in student fees — a serious concern for students and their parents.

It is noteworthy that this marks the tenth day of the ongoing protest and the fifth day of the hunger strike. Participating in today’s hunger strike are Dr. Ramandeep Kaur, Dr. Deepali, Dr. Simmi Garg, Ms. Harmanu Pal, and Mrs. Pawan Kumari — all Assistant Professors.

Responding to the principal’s statement, the union clarified that their movement began only after an in-depth study and analysis of autonomous policies. They also pointed out that the national-level teachers’ organization AIFUCTO has long been campaigning against the adverse effects of the New Education Policy, especially autonomy, through protests and rallies.

Importantly, degrees issued by autonomous colleges are not recognized by some Indian and foreign universities, raising further concerns.

Reiterating their stance, the HMV Union stated that opposition to the move to grant autonomy to such a renowned institution reflects the voice of the educated community. The DAV Managing Committee is expected to take this voice seriously and make a decision in favor of the teachers.

The union will decide its next course of action based on the outcome of the DAV Managing Committee meeting scheduled for May 4, 2025.