Tussle between Governor and state leaves lakhs of students in trouble in TN: report

Chennai: More than nine lakh graduates, post graduates and research scholars in Tamil Nadu are caught in the crossfire between Governor RN Ravi and the state government over holding convocations in universities.

The hapless students of twelve state universities are stuck in a limbo indefinitely waiting for their qualifying certificates spoiling job and higher education opportunities, NDTV reported.

The state’s education minister Ponmudi blames Governor RN Ravi, who is also the chancellor of all universities, for the impasse.

Ponmudi alleged the Governor insists on having union ministers as chief guests at convocations, causing delay.

The Bharathiar University in Coimbatore is particularly affected by the situation as it has no vice chancellor in place for about a year without whom the ceremony can’t be held.

Delay in appointing a vice chancellor reportedly continues because of Governor’s insistence to have his nominee in the search committee for the post, which has no provision.

NDTV quoted a noted career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi saying that no university in the world faces the kind of delay happening in Tamil Nadu in conducting convocation.

Nevertheless the state assembly last year passed a bill to remove Governor as the Chancellor, the Governor has not yet given assent to it.

However, the Governor told an interview that the Constitutions allows him to withhold the bill, hinting at courts to decide it ultimately.

Chief Minister MK Stalin was quoted as saying that assembly adopted a resolution to place the Chief Minister as the Chancellor.

Meanwhile, the Raj Bhavan sources reportedly said the Governor had given consent to four of the seven universities that had sought dates for convocation.

The Governors in non-BJP ruled states are often accused of interfering with the affairs of the state governments.