Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala assembly last week passed the University Laws (Amendment) Bill that seeks to remove the governor as chancellor of state run universities and pick one or more eminent personalities to take over that responsibility.
The opposition UDF boycotted the proceedings after the government refused to incorporate some of its suggestions in the bill such as including the chief justice of the Kerala high court in the selection committee. The government instead decided to constitute a selection committee comprising the CM, the leader of the opposition and the speaker.
Law minister P Rajeeve said the opposition's demand to include the chief justice in the selection committee couldn't be considered as the latter would be required to adjudicate on legal issues if anyone challenged the chancellor's appointment in court. The original version of the bill had proposed that the cabinet appoint the chancellor.
The passage of the bill comes amid a tussle between governor Arif Mohammed Khan and the government over various issues, including the appointment of vice-chancellors of various universities. Leader of the opposition V D Satheesan said there was no need to have 14 chancellors for as many universities, at which Rajeeve said that could be discussed and finalised later. "The government has no preconceived notion about the number of chancellors," he said.