6 months ago
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After President Draupadi Murmu returned the Chennai University Amendment Bill, 2022, which sought to empower the State to name the Vice-Chancellor, the Tamil Nadu authorities is weighing its options, and volition instrumentality a determination soon.
The State authorities was informed that the “President of India has withheld her assent from the Bill” without immoderate crushed oregon objection being stated.
Higher Education Minister Govi. Chezhiaan told The Hindu that determination were options disposable and the last determination would soon beryllium taken by the Chief Minister. The assignment of Vice-Chancellors should beryllium the State government’s prerogative, helium said, and the State Assembly had passed the Bill successful April 2022.
The hold connected the portion of Governor R.N. Ravi in forwarding the Bill by implicit a twelvemonth was condemnable, Dr. Chezhiaan said. Mr. Ravi reserved the Bill for the President’s consideration, stating that it would spell against the UGC regulations and established norms. “This shows the partisan behaviour connected the portion of the Governor, proving that helium is not acceptable to clasp the post,” the Minister said.
The Bill sought to regenerate the word, ‘Chancellor’, with the word, ‘Government’, successful Section 11 of the Madras University Act, 1923, which deals with the assignment of Vice-Chancellors, frankincense seeking to found greater power of the State authorities successful the affairs of the university.
The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill noted that successful Gujarat and Telangana, the respective State governments person the powerfulness to name Vice-Chancellors, portion successful neighbouring Karnataka, Vice-Chancellors are appointed by the Chancellor successful concurrence with the State government.
While the Tamil Nadu authorities considers its adjacent people of action, a conception of authorities officials feels that a deadlock has been reached and determination are precise fewer options disposable for the Tamil Nadu government. Had the Governor returned the Bill, the Assembly could person sent it back, frankincense making it binding connected the Governor. However, determination is nary specified precedence for the President’s consideration.
Legal options, too, person been constricted aft the caller pronouncement of a five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court connected the Presidential Reference connected the powers of the Governor and the President regarding assent to, withholding, oregon preservation of Bills.
The State whitethorn gully up a caller Act with caller provisions and get it passed by the Assembly earlier sending it for assent, but determination is nary warrant that it volition interruption the impasse, the officials say.
Setback, says TNCC chief
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai said the instrumentality of the Bill by the President was a setback to the rule of cooperative federalism. In a statement, helium said the State authorities had passed the Bill successful 2022. He said the President’s decision, taken connected the proposal of the BJP-led government astatine the Centre, was condemnable. He pointed retired that successful Gujarat and Telangana, Vice-Chancellors were being appointed by the State governments.
He besides urged the Chief Minister to see the adjacent people of ineligible enactment connected the President’s decision.
