Chennai, May 28:
Leaders from Communist Party of India (CPI), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) on Wednesday criticised Higher Education Minister P. Viswanathan for his remarks regarding the role of the Chancellor in State universities.
The controversy erupted after the Minister stated that the newly formed government was not bound to follow the previous regimeās stand that the Chief Minister should serve as Chancellor instead of the Governor. Responding to queries, he said that policy decisions on the matter would be taken by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and that the current administration was under no obligation to continue earlier policies.
Reacting sharply, VCK general secretary and Villupuram MP D. Ravikumar questioned whether the Ministerās statement had the approval of the Chief Minister. In a post on social media, he said the remarks amounted to abandoning a position that Tamil Nadu had consistently upheld as part of its State rights, and also disregarded the Supreme Court of India verdict on the issue.
Meanwhile, CPI State secretary M. Veerapandian recalled that the Tamil Nadu Assembly had passed a Bill during the previous regime seeking to replace the Governor with the Chief Minister as Chancellor of universities. He pointed out that the then Governor had kept the Bill pending, which led the State government to approach the Supreme Court.
The remarks have triggered a fresh political debate over the autonomy of State governments and the role of Governors in university administration.