Tamil Nadu govt. is weighing its options on Madras University Amendment Bill, says Higher Education Minister

After President Draupadi Murmu returned the Chennai University Amendment Bill (2022), which aims to give the State the power to appoint the Vice-Chancellor, the Tamil Nadu government is considering its options and will take a decision soon.

It informed the state government that “the President of India has not assented to the Bill” without any justification or objection.

Minister of Higher Education Govi. Chezhiaan told Hindu He said that options are available and the final decision will be taken by the Prime Minister soon. He said the appointment of Vice-Chancellors should be the prerogative of the State government and said that the State Assembly passed the Bill in April 2022.

Dr. Chezhiaan said Governor RN Ravi’s delay of over a year in forwarding the bill was condemnable. Mr. Ravi submitted the bill for the President’s consideration, stating that this would be against UGC regulations and established norms. “This demonstrates the Governor’s partisan behavior and proves that he is unfit for office,” the minister said.

The bill sought to replace the word ‘Chancellor’ with the word ‘Government’ in Section 11 of the Madras University Act, 1923, which regulates the appointment of Vice-Chancellors, thereby providing greater control over the State government in university affairs.

The Statement of Objects and Reasons for the Bill stated that in Gujarat and Telangana, the respective State governments have the power to appoint Vice-Chancellors, while in neighboring Karnataka, Vice-Chancellors are appointed by the Chancellor in concurrence with the State government.

While the Tamil Nadu government is considering its next course of action, a section of government officials feel that a stalemate has been reached and very few options are available to the Tamil Nadu government. If the Governor had returned the bill, the House could have returned the bill, thus making the bill binding on the Governor. However, there is no such priority in the President’s evaluation.

Legal options are also limited following the recent clarification by a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court on the Presidential Reference on the powers of the Governor and the President to approve, withdraw or give reservations to bills.

Officials say the state could draft a new law with new provisions and have it passed by Parliament before sending it for approval, but there is no guarantee that this will resolve the impasse.

Decline, says TNCC chief

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai said the return of the Bill by the President was a setback to the principle of cooperative federalism. The State government has passed the bill in 2022, he said in a statement. He said that the decision taken by the President on the advice of the BJP-led government at the Center was condemnable. He pointed out that in Gujarat and Telangana, Vice-Chancellors are appointed by the State governments.

He also called on the Prime Minister to consider further legal action regarding the President’s decision.