Contrary to the popular perception that the Bills, re-adopted by the Assembly last week, stand for replacing Governor with Chief Minister as Chancellor, perusing the text of the Bills reveals that they do not disturb the status of Governor as Chancellor.
The Bills only seek to take away the power of the Governor with regard to appointment of Vice-Chancellors (V-Cs) and give it to the State government. In this regard, the expression “Governor” is substituted by the term, “government.” Through a new section, the Bills state that V-Cs can be removed only by the order of the government, apart from laying down the procedure for V-Cs’ removal.
The pieces of legislation cover Universities of Madurai-Kamaraj, Anna, Bharathiar, Bharatidasan, Mother Teresa, Alagappa, Manomaniam Sundaranar, Periyar, Open, Thiruvalluvar, Teachers Education, Annamalai, Dr Ambedkar Law, Dr MGR Medical, Agricultural, Tamil, Veterinary and Animal Sciences, and Fisheries. In respect of Bills for all these institutions, Governor R.N. Ravi withheld his consent on November 13.
