President Droupadi Murmu has returned the Tamil Nadu University of Madras Amendment Bill, which sought to transfer the power of appointing the university’s vice chancellor from the governor to the state government.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly passed the bill in April 2022 and sent it for presidential assent. The legislation aimed to amend the University of Madras Act by replacing the word “chancellor” with “government,” thereby giving the state authority to appoint and remove the vice chancellor.
The University of Madras, a 168-year-old institution, has been functioning without a vice chancellor for more than two years. The bill intended to address this gap by empowering the state government. However, Governor R. N. Ravi reserved the bill for presidential consideration, citing possible conflicts with University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations and established norms for VC appointments.
Following its return, the Assembly must now reconsider the proposed legislation. Officials confirmed that the President’s decision reflects concerns over regulatory compliance and governance standards.
Currently, about 14 out of 22 universities in Tamil Nadu, including the University of Madras, operate under convenor committees due to the absence of regular vice chancellors. The reconsideration of this bill will play a crucial role in shaping the governance of higher education institutions in the state.
