Kerala: Ordinance Taking Away Powers Of Governor As Chancellor Of State Universities To Be Referred To President

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan told reporters in New Delhi that he plans to send the ordinance, removing the Governor as Chancellor of state universities, to the President.

He said that he did not want to be the judge of an ordinance in which he was the target.

The ordinance was sent to the Raj Bhavan by the cabinet last week but Khan said that he had not personally seen it as he was outside the state.

Higher Education Minister R Bindu had said that the ordinance was being brought in view of the ongoing clash between the state government and Khan over the appointment of Vice-Chancellors (VCs) to state universities.

According to the proposed ordinance, an eminent academic will become the Chancellor instead of the Governor. Bindu had then said that she hoped that the Governor would sign the ordinance.

However, after the latest statement of the Governor, the Kerala government is seeking legal opinion as to whether it can introduce a bill in the assembly to achieve its objective, in case the Governor refers the ordinance to the President.

Also Read: Kerala: Government Bringing Ordinance To Remove Governor As Chancellor Of State Universities