Tamil Nadu Governor Ravi Withdraws Notification Over Appointment of VCs of Three State Universities

New Delhi: After a meeting between Chief Minister M K Stalin and Governor R N Ravi, Raj Bhavan withdrew the notifications about appointing vice-chancellors for three state-run universities. This action, marking the first step following the Supreme Court's recent suggestion to resolve their differences, came with a condition.

Raj Bhavan expressed confidence that the state government would also retract its notifications and issue new ones adhering to UGC regulations, along with the judgments of higher courts. While the outcome of the governor's withdrawal remains uncertain, it hints at a possible easing of tensions between Raj Bhavan and the DMK government.

The discord between the state government and Governor Ravi over pending bills, policies, and prisoner releases has been widely acknowledged. As the chancellor of state universities, the governor had previously issued notifications on September 6, 2023, forming search committees to appoint vice-chancellors at Bharathiar University, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, and University of Madras.

Raj Bhavan cited discrepancies between the state government's gazette notifications and the regulations set by the University Grants Commission in an official release.

Raj Bhavan referenced the Madras High Court's ruling in V Palaniappa Vs Secretary to Chancellor, Puducherry Technological University and others (Dec-2023), stating it necessitates alignment of statutory provisions with the UGC Regulations 2018. Given this legal clarity, the governor trusts that, in adherence to constitutional propriety and legality, the "Government of Tamil Nadu would retract its notifications."

Expressing confidence in the state government's compliance with UGC norms and court decisions, Raj Bhavan anticipates the issuance of revised notifications. These notifications aim to establish search committees for suggesting sets of three candidates to the chancellor for the vice-chancellor appointments.

Raj Bhavan stated to the governor that he "awaits appropriate action from the Government of Tamil Nadu at the earliest in this regard to ensure that the cause of higher education and the future of several hundred thousand students in the state are not adversely affected".

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