Chennai: 

Three days after the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court using its plenary powers to grant assent to Bills withheld by Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, the State Saturday notified all the 10 Bills as Acts, giving the Government power to appoint and remove a Vice-Chancellor, with a process envisaged for both scenarios.

The State published the Bills in its extraordinary Tamil Nadu Government Gazette dated April 11, 2025.

On April 8, the top court invoked its powers under Article 142 and declared the said Bills as approved effectively as Act when they were sent to the Governor.

As for the tenure of the Vice-Chancellors in service, the Acts said they will continue to be in service "for a term of three years from the date on which he/she entered upon his office or till the completion of seventy years of age, whichever is earlier".

The notified Acts disempowered the Governor-Chancellor in dealing with the appointments of Vice-Chancellors in State-run universities. It transferred the power to empanel the candidates and deciding their academic qualifications and experience to the Government.

"The Vice-Chancellor shall not be removed from his office except by an order of the Government passed on the ground of wilful omission or refusal to carry out the provisions of this Act or abuse of the powers vested in him. In a case where it is proposed to remove the Vice-Chancellor, the Government shall order an inquiry by such a person who is or has been,— (i) a Judge of the High Court; or (ii) an officer of the Government, not below the rank of Chief Secretary to Government, in which the Vice-Chancellor shall be given an opportunity to make a representation. On consideration of the inquiry report, the Vice-Chancellor shall be furnished a copy of the inquiry report and called upon to submit his further representation, if any thereon, before making an order of removal," read several of the Bills.

The decision, a source said, was taken keeping in mind that the Acts would take retrospective effect. The Bills withheld were re-adopted by the State Legislative Assembly and resent to the Governor.

These Acts also provide for the Government to specify the educational qualifications and experience for a person who can be recommended for appointment as a VC, by the search committee. They read the person shall be a distinguished academician with the highest level of competence, integrity, morals and institutional commitment.

One of these Acts, The Tamil Nadu Fisheries University (Amendment) Act, 2020, has rechristened the University as The Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University.

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