Kerala govt intends to replace Governor as Chancellor of universities through ordinance

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 08: Kerala Higher Education Minister R Bindu on Wednesday said that the state government has intended to replace Governor with expert academicians as Chancellor of universities through ordinance.

The decision to issue the ordinance was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday. At present, the Governor is the chancellor of all universities in the state. The government is mulling making educational experts or cabinet members chancellor of the universities.

Speaking to reporters, Bindu said the government has taken the decision for the improvement of the higher education and universities in the state.

On queries whether Governor Arif Mohammed Khan would sign the ordinance, the minister said she hopes that he would act according to his Constitutional duties.

The state government's move comes amidst the ongoing tussle between it and the Governor over functioning of universities, including appointment of Vice Chancellors, in the state, as reported by news agency PTI.

Incidentally, this is the first time that such a law is being moved after Kerala was formed in 1956, when the Assembly through a Bill appointed the governor as the chancellor of Universities in the state.

There are 14 Universities where the governor is the chancellor.