Kerala House clears bill to replace Governor as chancellor of varsities

Kerala House clears bill to replace Governor as chancellor of varsities

Subject: Polity

Context: The Kerala assembly on Tuesday passed a bill to replace the governor as chancellor of all state universities with top academics, ratcheting up the state government’s ongoing face-off with Raj Bhavan.

• The Kerala government wants to replace Kerala Governor with “renowned academic experts” as chancellors of various universities.
• The University Laws (Amendment) Bill that was introduced last week stipulates that a search committee be constituted by the government and senate of the varsity, which will then appoint eminent academicians as chancellors of each of the universities.

Kerala Govt stand on replacing governor

• Firstly, the Punchhi Commission that studied Centre-State relations had said that State governments should desist from burdening Governors with the role of chancellor of universities lest the extra authority impede them from the discharge of their constitutional obligations.
• Secondly, Kerala Government said that the Legislative Assembly had created the office of the chancellor and weaved the legislation into the founding statute that established State universities.
• Hence, the Assembly was assertively competent to withdraw the Governor’s powers as chancellor.

Role of governor as a chancellor of universities

• Hon’ble Governor acts as the ex-officio Chancellor of the State Universities.
• As per the provisions of the Act of the concerned University, the Governor appoints the Vice Chancellor on the advice/ in consultation with the State Government.
• As Chancellor, the Governor also presides over the Convocation of the State Universities, whenever present.
• The Governor as Chancellor has absolute authority. The Governor chairs the Senate and the Syndicate meetings.
• In his absence the Vice-Chancellor officiates. As the visitor of the university he can inspect, order and command. The institution runs under his stewardship.
• Chancellor also appoints his/her nominees on various bodies like Senate, Syndicate, Board of Management, Selection Committee and Academic Council of the State Universities.
• The Chancellor has been entrusted with the powers to enquire into the affairs of the State Universities as per the provisions of the Act.