New Karnataka govt-Governor flashpoint: Siddaramaiah moves to curb Gehlot’s power to appoint V-Cs

While the government argues that the Governor anyway has little say in the functioning of universities, sources said the approved draft Bill has provision for one university, and that the Higher Education Department is drafting similar legislation to amend the Karnataka State Universities (KSU) Act to extend the provision to all public universities.

The government’s move comes amid its ongoing tussle with Gehlot over his decision to grant sanction to prosecute Siddaramaiah in the alleged Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment scam, a move which the CM has challenged in the Karnataka High Court.

Currently, the appointment of vice-chancellors is finalised after a state government-appointed search-cum-selection committee shortlists three eligible names and sends it to the Governor for approval. The planned amendment allows the government to zero in on one name and send it to the Governor for approval.

The Karnataka government claims that the amendment will bring in uniform provisions for the establishment, administration and recruitment of teaching staff of universities. It justifies its move citing a University Grants Commission (UGC) notification of 2015 that prescribes the minimum qualification for the appointment of vice-chancellors. “Accordingly, the candidates for the post should have served at least 10 years in the post of professor in a university. In addition to this, the Supreme Court has held that any appointment as a vice-chancellor contrary to the provisions of UGC regulations can be said to be in violation of the statutory provisions. Hence, the government is proposing this amendment Bill to bring the University Act in consonance with the UGC regulations,” the government says.

The BJP has slammed the move, with state president B Y Vijayendra accusing the Congress of “undermining a Constitutional mandate”, “stifling democracy” and seeking Governors “who operate on its directives”. “In contrast, the Governor of Karnataka has upheld the dignity and respect of the Constitutional office. It is disgraceful that the government, which has been consistently disrespecting the Governor, is now attempting to diminish his power,” he said.

The appointment of vice-chancellors to state-run universities has been a contentious issue in other states as well. In 2022, Tamil Nadu amended the Universities Act to empower the government to have the final word in appointment of vice-chancellors.

The Kerala government too has been at loggerheads with Governor Arif Mohammed Khan over the issue. In 2022, the Kerala Assembly amended the Universities Act to remove him as the chancellor of state-run universities while accusing him of “saffronising the education system”. More recently in July, Khan bypassed the government panel and appointed P Raveendran as the vice-chancellor of Calicut University, a move which the Kerala High Court stayed after it was challenged by the Pinarayi Vijayan government.