Governor to weaponize IAS officers’ opposition against bill to remove Governor from Chancellor position; will seek inputs from Constitutional expert

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Governor will seek legal advice from a Supreme Court lawyer, who is an expert in Constitution, on the University Amendment Bill to remove the Governor from position of Chancellor. Meanwhile, Health Department Additional Chief Secretary, Asha Thomas, and Agriculture Department Principal Secretary, Dr. B Ashok, wrote a note that the bill cannot be introduced without discussion with the Center and the UGC. Their notes have been included in the bill.

Both the IAS officers have pointed that the bill is against the 66th entry of the 7th Schedule of the Constitution and also against the UGC guidelines. The Governor is now seeking legal inputs to determine if introduction of the bill is against the rules.

According to the guidelines, a bill that is related to subjects that come under the Concurrent List, can be introduced only after getting approval from the central government. Education comes under Concurrent List. The Book of Business, that is the authoritative document of the administration says that before a legislature makes a law that comes under Concurrent List, then it must be discussed with the concerned department of the Central Government.