Kerala Assembly passes Bill for removing Governor as the chancellor of universities

The Bill was passed after hours long discussions during which the Congress-led UDF said it was not opposed to the removal of the Governor as Chancellor

The Kerala Assembly on Tuesday passed the Bill for removing the Governor from the post of chancellor of universities in the state.

Even as the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front favoured removing the Governor from chancellor post, it did not back the Bill citing flaws in the chancellor selection process and alleging that it was aimed at appointing persons of the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front's choice as chancellor.

The Pinarayi Vijayan government decided to bring in the Bill amid the ongoing rift with Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on various issues, especially over selection of vice-chancellors of universities.

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Though the state government earlier issued an ordinance in this regard, it was later replaced with the Bill considering the Governor's stand that he would refer the matter to the President as it was a matter concerning the Governor. The Bill's future still hangs in balance as the Governor may refer to the President. Couple of other Bills, including amendment to Lok Ayukta Act, were also pending with the Governor for months.

The Bill passed by the Assembly provided for appointing eminent personalities of related fields as chancellors of universities in the state.

The opposition's major demand was that either a retired judge of the Supreme Court or retired High Court chief justice should be appointed as chancellor. It also suggested that there should be only one chancellor for all the universities instead of having separate chancellors for each university, which would also "cause much financial obligations" to the government.

Another suggestion of the opposition was to make the selection of a chancellor by a committee comprising the Chief Minister, opposition leader and Kerala High Court chief justice.

The ruling front only agreed to the final one, that too partially, by replacing the Chief Justice with the Speaker in the proposed selection committee.

The opposition staged a walkout from the House alleging that the government had an intention of appointing persons of their choice as chancellors. The Bill was subsequently passed in the House.