Kerala assembly passes bill to remove Governor as chancellor of universities

The Kerala Legislative Assembly has passed a bill to remove the Governor as the Chancellor of eight state universities. It seeks to amend eight Acts relating to different universities and to empower the State Government to appoint a Chancellor.

It amends the Kerala Agricultural University Act, 1971; the Kerala University Act, 1974; the Calicut University Act, 1975; the Mahatma Gandhi University Act, 1985; the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit Act, 1994; the Kannur University Act, 1996; the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Act, 2010; and the Kerala University of Health Sciences Act, 2010.

The Kerala Government and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan have been issued over the selection of Vice Chancellors of universities.

"The Government shall appoint an academician of high repute or a person of eminence in any of the fields of science including agriculture and veterinary, technology, medicine, social science, humanities, literature, art, culture, law or public administration as the Chancellor of the University," states the University Laws (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2022.

The Chancellor appointed by the state government will have a term of five years and is eligible for re-appointment. The government will also have the power to remove the Chancellor if grave misconduct is conducted, reported Live Law.

The Opposition walked out after demanding a retired judge should be appointed as Chancellor and the selection panel should comprise the CM, LoP, and Kerala High Court Chief Justice. The bill was passed in the absence of the Opposition.