Premium

‘We will intervene if not resolved by next week’: SC to Tamil Nadu Govt and Governor over V-C appointments

The issue stems from Governor Ravi’s constituting panels for identifying candidates for appointment as vice-chancellors of three universities in Tamil Nadu.

Article 200 of the Constitution gives the Governor the power to approve or withhold approval to Bills passed by the state legislature. (Source: Express File Photo)

The Supreme Court said Friday it will intervene to resolve the differences between the DMK government in Tamil Nadu and Governor R N Ravi over the selection and appointment of vice-chancellors for universities in the state if the two sides fail to settle matters by the next date of hearing.

“By the next date, if it is resolved well and good. Otherwise, we will resolve it,” a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said, fixing the matter for hearing next on January 22.

The bench was hearing an application filed by Tamil Nadu to bring on record developments which happened after it filed a petition before the court challenging notifications issued by the Governor on September 6, 2023, constituting search committees for identifying candidates for appointment as vice-chancellors for Bharathiar University, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, and the University of Madras.

Story continues below this ad

Tamil Nadu Governor Ravi withdrew the notification on January 9, 2024, and requested the Government to constitute search committees, including a nominee of the chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), for the appointment of vice-chancellors of the three universities.

The state said the tenure of the vice-chancellors of Anna University and Annamalai University ended on August 10, 2024, and November 23, 2024, respectively, and that the extensions granted to the vice-chancellors of Bharathidasan University and Periyar University will end on February 4, 2025, and May 19, 2025, respectively.

The application said the Governor in his capacity of the chancellor in October, November, and December 2024, constituted search committees consisting of four members, including a nominee of UGC chairman, for recommending a panel of names for appointing vice-chancellors for Annamalai University, Anna University, Bharathidasan University, and Periyar University. “However, as the Acts governing the above four universities do not provide for the inclusion of a nominee of the Chairman of the UGC, the Government notified Search Committees with three members, excluding the nominee of the Chairman of the UGC…” it said.

Taking exception, Governor Ravi directed the Tamil Nadu Government to recall the notifications issued and reconstitute the search committees for the four universities by including a nominee of the UGC chairman.

Story continues below this ad

Appearing for Tamil Nadu, Senior Advocate A M Sinhgvi requested that the state be allowed to bring the new developments on record.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram