CHENNAI: Dashing the ruling DMK’s hopes of overcoming the hurdle posed by Governor RN Ravi, President Droupadi Murmu rejected the Chennai University (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which sought to empower the State government to appoint the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Madras.

The 168-year-old university, one of the oldest in the country, has not had a Vice-Chancellor for more than two years due to the tug of war between the government and Lok Bhavan.

The State Assembly had passed the Bill through a voice vote in April 2022 and forwarded it to Governor Ravi. However, the latter kept it pending for more than a year. Finally, it took a Supreme Court direction that Governors must decide within three months when a Bill is reserved for Presidential assent against the Cabinet’s advice for him to send it to the President.

The Bill was part of the government’s move to take over the power of appointing Vice-Chancellors for State universities from the Governor. Along with this, the Tamil Nadu Universities Laws (Amendment) Act, 2022, was also approved in the House at the same time.

While tabling the Bill, the then Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy cited examples from Gujarat and Telangana where State governments appoint Vice-Chancellors. Chief Minister MK Stalin had also pointed out during debate that the Governor does not make V-C appointments even in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home State.

The BJP opposed the Bill at the introduction stage itself, while the AIADMK staged a walkout over remarks made by a Congress member.

According to the statement of objects and reasons, the amendment aimed to align university governance in Tamil Nadu with other States and include the Finance Department Secretary as a syndicate member by amending the 1923 Act.

With the President refusing assent, the government’s attempt to assert control over university administration has suffered a major setback.