A wave of discontent has swept through sections of the faculty at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) following the Centre’s appointment of eight new members to the university’s Executive Council (EC) — seven of whom are residents of Varanasi, including three BJP leaders.
The appointments, announced by the Union Ministry of Education on Wednesday, have raised serious concerns over regional imbalance and alleged politicisation of the university’s top decision-making body.
Executive Council Revived After Four-Year Vacancy
The Executive Council, which is the highest statutory authority in BHU, had remained non-functional for the past four years due to unfilled vacancies.
With the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, acting in her capacity as the Visitor of the University, the long-overdue nominations were finally made — but the composition has drawn sharp criticism from within the BHU community.
While the appointments are for a three-year term, many in the university allege that the unprecedented concentration of appointees from a single city — and particularly one that is the Prime Minister’s Lok Sabha constituency — is both inappropriate and potentially harmful for the academic and administrative neutrality of the institution.
Faculty Call for Diverse Representation
Traditionally, BHU’s EC has included eminent personalities from across India, with a clear emphasis on diversity of experience, region, and expertise. Faculty members say this diversity brings intellectual depth, wider perspectives, and balanced decision-making to the table.
“The BHU community is shocked by the appointments,” said one senior faculty member on condition of anonymity. “Never before have seven of eight members been from Varanasi. It is difficult to understand the criteria used for these selections. The EC is not just an administrative committee — it’s a forum that guides the university’s long-term vision and direction.”
Another professor remarked that having EC members closely associated with the ruling party, or from a single geographic region, could skew policy decisions in favour of political interests, undermining the autonomy and academic excellence for which BHU is known.
Concerns Over Political Influence
The appointment of three BJP leaders to the panel has further intensified criticism, with many seeing it as a politicisation of institutional governance. Academicians fear that the inclusion of politically affiliated individuals in such a crucial body could alter the priorities of the university from academic growth to political alignment.
“A university must be free of political interference,” said another professor. “We respect that the President has the authority to nominate members, but these appointments should reflect the best minds from diverse backgrounds, not a political agenda.”