Subramanian panel for balance between protests and academics

A committee headed by former Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramanian for formulating a New Education Policy (NEP) is understood to have suggested pondering on how to create a balance between the right to free speech and the rights of students to study on campus.
The committee's recommendation is being seen in the context of protests in JNU and Hyderabad Central University.
The committee has said the primary purpose of an educational institution is studies but free flow of ideas is also important, sources said.
"The panel has recommended that the nation should ponder on how to strike a balance between the right to free speech and related aspects and also their impact on studies of other students. Postponing of exams because of such situations is not ideal," the sources said.

The panel had on May 27 submitted its 200-page report containing nearly 90 recommendations to the HRD Ministry.
Among other key suggestions made in the report are that the no detention policy in schools should be applicable till Class V and exams should be held from Class VI onwards.
The committee, in its report, is also learnt to have devoted a chapter on the impact of coaching classes for entrance exams.
Besides Subramanian, former Chief Secretary of Delhi Shailaja Chandra, former Home Secretary of Delhi Sevaram Sharma, former Chief Secretary of Gujarat Sudhir Mankad and former NCERT Director J S Rajput were members of the panel.