Setback for Kerala: President didn't approve 3 major Bills

Thiruvananthapuram: Three University Act Amendment Bills passed by the Kerala state legislature, which Governor Arif Mohammed Khan sent to the consideration, were not approved by President Droupadi Murmu, serving a setback to the state government. The President approved only one of the seven bills sent.

Three other bills are still pending under Murmu. The three bills that were not given assent by the President were Kerala University Rules Amendment Bill (Amendment 2) 2022, which removes the Governor from the post of chancellor in universities, University Rules Amendment Bill 2022 to expand the search committee for the appointment of Vice-Chancellors, and University Rules Amendment Bill 2021 regarding the appointment of university tribunals.

According to a press release issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan, three bills are under consideration by the President.

The Governor had sent seven bills passed by the state assembly to the President for decision. Out of this, Murmu approved only the Lokayukta Amendment Bill.

Following the President's approval of the Loayukta bill, state Law Minister P Rajeev said on Thursday that Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's stand on the matter was wrong, PTI reported.

Rajeev said that when the Lokpal Bill was being discussed in the Parliament, a decision was taken that the states have the power to frame a similar law, and therefore, there was nothing wrong in the manner in which the amendments were made to the Kerala Lok Ayukta Act.

He said that when the Governor had sought a clarification regarding the bill, it was read out to him, and therefore, he ought to have signed it back then.

"There was no need to send it to the President for assent. Now, the Presidential assent indicates that the Governor's stand was wrong," the minister said.

Despite stiff opposition raised by the UDF members and their subsequent boycott, the Kerala Assembly had on August 30, 2022, passed the Lok Ayukta (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to make the executive the appellate authority over recommendations and reports by the anti-corruption watchdog.