Kerala govt to bring in ordinance to replace Governor as Chancellor of universities in state

The Kerala government on Wednesday decided to come out with an ordinance to replace the Governor as Chancellor of universities in the state and appoint eminent academicians to that post a move which has been opposed both by the Congress and BJPThe decision was taken in a cabinet meeting held during the day a statement issued by the Chief Ministers Office CMO saidThe LDF governments move comes amidst its ongoing tussle with Governor Arif Mohammed Khan over functioning of universities including appointment of Vice Chancellors in the stateThe governments move has been opposed by both the Congress and BJP in the state that have alleged that the cabinet decision was aimed at turning universities in Kerala into Communist centresThey also alleged that if the ordinance is promulgated all appointments including that of Vice Chancellors in the universities would be decided at the AKG Centre the state headquarters of the ruling CPIMAlso Read No curbs on womenrsquos right to reproduction Kerala HCIn the cabinet meeting it was decided to recommend to Khan to promulgate the ordinance which would amend the University Laws regarding appointment of chancellor by removing the section which states that the Governor shall also be at the helm of 14 varsities in the state the CMO statement saidIt further said that in the meeting the cabinet also considered the recommendations of the Punchhi Commission headed by former Chief Justice of India Madan Mohan Punchhi that it would not be appropriate to appoint the Governor as the head of the universities as he has other duties too under the ConstitutionIn view of the panels recommendations and the importance given by the government to higher education in the state it was decided to appoint eminent academicians as Chancellors of universities the statement saidThe cabinet was of the view that it would be beneficial to have persons with expertise in the field of higher education at the helm of the universities to formulate a longterm plan to raise Keralas higher education centres to international standardsState Higher Education Minister R Bindu also confirmed this while speaking to reportersBindu said that the government has taken the decision to replace the Governor with eminent academicians as Chancellors for bringing longterm reforms in higher education and universities in the stateOn queries whether Khan would sign the ordinance the minister said she hopes that he would act according to his constitutional dutiesIn an apparent reference to the recent move by Khan against appointment of VCs of 11 universities in the state Bindu also said that recently there were interferences in the functioning of varsities which aimed at making them rudderless and that definitely raised concerns with regard to the status of higher education in KeralaLeader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan opposed the cabinet decision and said that it was aimed at making universities as Communist centresHe said changing the Chancellor was not the solution or remedy for the mistakes of the government and the chief ministerIf the Governor is removed then just as relatives and favourites of party leaders were appointed through the backdoor VCs would be selected at the AKG CentreHe said the decision would only harm higher education in the state like what happened in West BengalSatheesan also alleged that the ordinance was also aimed at overriding the recent Supreme Court verdict regarding appointment of VCsBJP state general secretary M T Ramesh also spoke along similar lines He said the ordinance was being brought in as the Governor did not agree with the state governments alleged plans to appoint relatives and favourites of CPIM leaders in the universitiesTherefore they decided to remove a Governor who was against corruption and nepotism The decision is antipeople antieducation and antistudents It will be detrimental to the progress of universities would set them back and turn them into centres of CPIM the BJP leader allegedLike Satheesan he too said that the ordinance if issued would result in all university appointments being decided at the CPIMs state headquartersThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever