Even party local committee secretary can be made chancellor, opposition opposes bill removing governor from post of chancellor

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The bill to remove the governor from the post of chancellor of 14 universities was introduced in the assembly today. The bill was introduced by Law Minister P Rajeev. Soon, the opposition came forward raising arguments.

Opposition leader V D Satheesan pointed that the bill has many problems. The bill has conditions against the guidelines of the UGC. The bill is against the verdicts of the Supreme Court. The bill will not stand legally. The bill says that the headquarters of the chancellor will be at the university headquarters. The expenses will be from the university’s own funds. The appointing authority of the chancellor is the government. The bill says that in the absence of the chancellor, the pro-chancellor will be in charge. In that case, the minister, the appointing authority, will come under the chancellor. There are many legal problems like this, said Satheesan.

There is no recruitment process for the appointment of chancellor. So, the cabinet can appoint someone from their own choice. The government and the governor are travelling in the same direction. The governor first accepted government’s anti-rule stance. The government and the governor are equally guilty. Even a party local committee secretary can be made chancellor through the bill.

Meantime, Ramesh Chennithala said the bill should be withdrawn and the removal of the governor from the post of chancellor is due to the dispute with the government. A financial memorandum should have been in the bill. The bill will not stand in the court. It is better for the government to rectify the mistakes and introduce it again. The opposition also demanded to summon the AG in the house. However, Minister P Rajeev responded that most of the opposition's arguments are political. The government's move is to pass the bill this month after considered by the subject committee.