Himachal Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla: Govt wants me to appoint V-C of its choice but I can’t violate rules
Shiv Pratap Shukla hits out at minister Chander Kumar and comments on frequent bypolls in Himachal Pradesh.
4 min read
The Governor is also the chancellor of CSK Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University and Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, and the statutory head of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry at Nauni in Solan. (Express Photo)Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Thursday criticised Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar for accusing Raj Bhavan of delaying a Bill related to the appointment of university vice-chancellors. He also commented on the frequent bypolls in the state.
“The state government wants me to appoint the person of its choice to the post of vice-chancellor. I will not go against the rules and regulations. I want to clarify that the Bill is not pending with Raj Bhavan. It was sent back to the state government seeking more clarifications. Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar should comment after verifying the facts. I am also concerned with the day-to-day functioning of CSK Agriculture University, Palampur. I know that scholars’ studies are being affected in the absence of the vice-chancellor, but I can’t go against the rules,” Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla told reporters at Raj Bhavan.
The Governor added, “The state government claims that because it funds the universities, such as CSK Agriculture University, Palampur, and Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, their vice-chancellors should be of the choice of the government, instead of the chancellor, who is the Governor of the state. The appointment of vice-chancellors through a committee constituted by the chancellor-cum-Governor of the state is according to the rules. How can I go against the rules?”
When asked if the matter was so important that the Governor needed to call a press conference, Shukla responded, “The state agriculture minister, Chander Kumar, was issuing statements in the media and raising questions about the Raj Bhavan. I concluded that I should clarify the situation before the media.”
The Governor is also the chancellor of CSK Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University and Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, and the statutory head of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry at Nauni in Solan.
In September 2023, the Assembly passed the Himachal Pradesh Universities of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2023, enabling the government to appoint vice-chancellors to these universities. BJP legislators opposed the Bill, accusing the Government of ending the autonomy of the institutions.
When contacted, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Chander Kumar, who is a Congress MLA, said, “I met Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla at Raj Bhavan urging him to approve the amended Bill. He told me that he had sent the Bill back to the state government with some queries. I told him that the government had cleared the queries and sent it back to the Raj Bhavan. In the meantime, the Governor sent the Bill back to the government, suggesting that it seek legal opinion on the Bill. The government has obtained the legal opinion and will issue a letter to the Raj Bhavan pertaining to the positive legal opinion on the Bill.”
Law and order and bypolls
Commenting on the bypolls in the state, Shiv Pratap Shukla said, “It is upon the public to decide on this matter. Indeed, it is not good for the state, but the Governor cannot make a comment on the procedure.”
Replying to a query on the Opposition’s demand that the Governor intervene in the law and order situation given the repeated incidents of violence, Shukla said, “The law and order situation in the state is not the worst. But as Himachal Pradesh is a peace-loving state and Dev Bhoomi, rare incidents also make headlines. Government should look into these matters.”
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