Amidst tensions with DMK, TN governor to convene meeting of VCs this weekend

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi and the DMK dispensation may be heading for yet another showdown with the former convening a meeting of Vice-Chancellors of state-funded universities in the state over the weekend in the picturesque Nilgiris district.

The meeting comes weeks after the Governor was stripped of the powers of appointment of VCs following the Supreme Court verdict that the bills readopted by the state Assembly, which were forwarded to the President, were deemed as having received assent.

It is believed that Ravi has invited Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar to address the Vice-Chancellors during the three-day conference beginning April 25. The governor has convened the conference in his capacity as the Chancellor of 18 state-funded universities, which hasn’t changed despite the new laws coming in force as they have only transferred the power of appointing and removing VCs from the governor to the government.

This is the second time that the Governor is hosting a conference of VCs after he assumed office in September 2021 and higher education is the subject over which the Raj Bhavan and Fort St George, the seat of power of the Tamil Nadu government, have fought the most.

Sources in the Raj Bhavan said the governor convened the meeting in his capacity as the Chancellor. “He continues to be the Chancellor for 18 of the 20 universities run by the state government. So, he is authorised to summon VCs,” a source added.

The meeting also comes a week after Chief Minister M K Stalin, for the first time, held a meeting with VCs and Registrars of state-funded universities. Despite losing powers to appoint VCs, as Chancellor, the governor can call for and examine records of any university officer or authority, modify their decisions, or even annul them.

The choice of the chief guest – Dhankar – is also interesting as the Vice President came in support of Ravi last week after the Supreme Court castigated him. Ravi had met Dhankar during his visit to New Delhi on April 19.

Governor Ravi had withheld the 10 bills on November 13, 2023 but the Tamil Nadu Assembly reenacted all of them on November 18, 2023 and sent them back to the Raj Bhavan.

However, the Governor chose to forward the bills to the President which has been set aside as erroneous in law by the Supreme Court and deemed to have been assented on the date when they were presented to the Governor after being reconsidered by the legislature.