The Governor will no longer serve as the Chancellor of Kerala's educational institutions. This provision is included under University Laws (Amendment) Bill. The Kerala Assembly passed the bill on Tuesday. The opposition UDF boycotted the House. The opposition said it felt that its amendments to the bill were not taken into consideration.
"The bill is passed," Speaker A N Shamseer said.
After lengthy deliberations, the measure was approved. The Congress-led UDF stated that it was not opposed to the Governor's removal as Chancellor. But it wanted the new Chancellor to come from among retired Supreme Court justices and former Kerala High Court chief justices.
The opposition wanted the Chief Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court on the selection committee for Chancellor. The opposition also claimed that each university need not have a separate chancellor.
The Speaker would be a preferable choice. This is according to state Law Minister P Rajeeve. The minister asserted that a judge cannot serve on the selection committee. The minister added that being a retired judge was not the only option for selection as a university head.
The opposition announced that it would abstain from House proceedings. It was in response to the government's stance. The opposition faults the government for the bill. It alleges that the state administration intended to convert universities into Communist hotbeds.
The bill came to the House amidst the power struggle between Governor and the Pinarayi Vijayan government. The clashes are over various issues, including the appointment of Vice-Chancellors of universities.
