UGC asks universities across the country to observe December 25 as ‘Good Governance Day’

New Delhi: The University Grants has asked universities across the country to observe December 25 as ‘Good Governance Day’ amid the controversy over organising events on the occasion which requires physical presence of students in the campus on Christmas.

However, in communication sent to all vice-chancellors, the University Grants Commission has made it clear the competition on oratory be organised before the universities and colleges go for Christmas vacation.

“A competition on oratory be organised in such a manner that it does not disturb the Christmas holidays and all activities regarding this must be completed before the Christmas break of colleges and universities under your jurisdiction,” it said.

The communication, though, does not mention about a seminar in connection with the observence of the ‘Good Governance Day’, a communication on which has been sent by UGC to all the central universities.

The Union human resource development ministry courted controversy over a circular by Navodya Vidyalaya Samiti asking all its schools to observe December 25 — Christmas — as ‘Good Governance Day’ that led to an uproar in Parliament.

Meanwhile, Congress has moved a notice for privilege motion against Mr Naidu, alleging that he misled Lok Sabha over HRD ministry’s circulars on celebrating Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birthday on Christmas as ‘Good Governance Day’.

Congress MP K.C. Venugopal met Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and moved the notice for privilege motion against Mr Naidu.