Tamil Nadu Governor forms committees for selection of VCs in three state universities; govt cries foul

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 7 (ANI): In a fresh tussle between the Governor and the state government in Tamil Nadu, Governor RN Ravi constituted search-cum-selection committees for the selection of Vice Chancellors of Bharathiar University, Tamil Nadu Teacher Education University, and University of Madras. 

Responding to this, Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister Ponmudi in a release said, “Tamil Nadu Governor constitute search-cum-selection committees arbitrarily which is against University Law and norms. Tamil Nadu Government will face the Governor arbitrary move legally.” 

“Under the Tamil Nadu Higher Education Department there are 13 universities which are all functioning with its own law and regulations. According to that, if the Vice-Chancellor position got expired then a search committee would be formed then the Vice-Chancellor position would be filled. The Governor does not have the regulations to constitute a Search committee to select Vice-Chancellor for the Universities which are all under the Higher Education Department,” Minister Ponmudi said in a statement. 

“No Governor so far has constituted a search committee for Vice-Chancellors on their own. There are no regulations in rules for that. Only the Government will release the Order about the Search committee. Now the Governor has acted in an arbitrary way and has constituted search and selection committee for Vice-Chancellors. The governor constituted committee is fully against University Law and rules. The government will take this issue legally,” the Higher Education Minister added. 

According to the press release issued by the Raj Bhavan, the constituted Search-cum-Selection Committee for the selection of Vice Chancellor of Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, comprises four Members: PWC Davidar, as Govemment Nominee or Convener, P. Duraisamy, former Vice Chancellor of University of Madras as Syndicate Nominee, G. Thiruvasagam, former Vice Chancellor of Bharathiar University and University of Madras, as Senate Nominee and  B.Thimmegowda, former Vice-Chancellor, Bangalore University, as UGC Chairman’s Nominee. 

The Search-cum-Selection Committee for the selection of Vice Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, Chennai, comprises four Members: Sushma Yadava, Member, University Grants Commission, as Chancellor’s Nominee/Convener, K. Allaudin as Goverment Nominee, T.Padmanaban, former Vice Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University as Syndicate Nominee and HCS Rathore, former Vice Chancellor, Central University of South Bihar, as UGC Chairman’s Nominee, the release said.

The Search-cum-Selection Committee for the selection of Vice Chancellor of University of Madras comprises four Members: Battu Satyanarayana, Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Kamataka, as Chancellor’s Nominee or Convener; K.Deenabandu, Member, State Planning Commission, as Syndicate Nominee; P. Jagadeesan, former Vice Chancellor, Bharathidasan University, as Senate Nominee and HCS Rathore, Former Vice- Chancellor, Central University of South Bihar, as UGC Chairman’s Nominee, the press release mentioned.

The friction between the MK Stalin government and Governor RN Ravi is well-known in political circles. 

Earlier in July, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote a 15-page letter to President Droupadi Murmu saying that Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi’s various activities show he is not fit to be a Governor. 

CM Stalin alleged that the activities of Governor Ravi were against the people of Tamil Nadu and the elected Government.