Governor’s power in VC appointment cut; Govt to appoint representatives, cabinet approves bill

KOCHI: The cabinet has approved the bill to curtail the governor’s power in universities. The major provision in the bill is that it enables the government to nominate a representative in the search committee to find vice chancellors. The bill has been introduced to change the composition of the vice chancellor search committee.

As per the bill, the number of members in the search committee to select the vice chancellor will be increased from three to five. The move is to introduce the bill in the coming assembly session. The new bill aims to reduce the governor’s power to interfere in the appointment of vice-chancellors in universities. It has been formulated as per the recommendations of the Shyam Mohan committee on higher education.

Currently, a three-member committee, consisting of the governor’s nominee, a UGC nominee and a university nominee, prepares the vice chancellor’s panel and submits it to the governor. The governor, who is the chancellor, shall appoint one person form the panel as the vice chancellor. Once the bill becomes an act, the governor will lose his power to nominate a member to the committee. Instead, the member will be recommended by the government.