Serious mistakes in the bill to remove Governor from Chancellorship of universities

THIRUVANANTHAURAM: There are serious mistakes in the bill that the government is bringing to remove Governor from the position of Chancellor of the universities. In the bill it says that when a VC’s tenure is vacant the interim VC can be selected from Pro Vice Chancellors.

However, in Fisheries, Veterinary, Agriculture, and Digital universities there are no Pro Vice Chancellors. But they are also included in this stipulation of the bill. These four universities are not part of the Education Department. The mistake crept into the bill because the Law Department made the bill without consulting the related departments.

According to the guidelines of the UGC, according to Co-terminus, the Pro Vice Chancellors will also go out with the Vice Chancellor. Therefore, in the amendment bill, it says that in the absence of PVC, some other VC from another university can be given charge. The bill also stipulates that retired IAS officers and Chief Secretary can also be made the Chancellor.

In the draft bill an educational expert was to be made Chancellor. The bill published on the legislative assembly website says that a person with expertise in administration can also be made Chancellor.

When the courts said that it was a violation to include the Chief Secretary in the Search Committee, the government had argued that the Chief Secretary is an expert in public administration which is also an academic subject. This argument was rejected by the High Court and the Fisheries VC was removed from his position.

According to the bill those who are experts in culture, science, technical, medicine, social science, humanities, literature, art, and law can be made Chancellor. The tenure is for five years. The position do not have any remuneration. The office of the Chancellor will be at the university. Employees and officials for the running of the office will be provided by the university.

According to the bill’s aims, it says that the Governor is removed from the position of Chancellorship on the basis of Justice Madanmohan Punchi Commission, which says that the Governor must not be burdened with positions that attract criticisms and controversies.