Kerala moves to remove Governor as Chancellor of universities

Source: The post is based on the article “Kerala moves to remove Governor as Chancellor of universities” published in The Hindu on 10th November 2022.

What is the News?

The Kerala government has decided to bring in an ordinance to remove the Governor from the post of Chancellor of all state-run universities.

Why does the Kerala Government want to remove Governor from the post of Chancellor of state-run universities?

Firstly, the Punchhi Commission that studied Centre-State relations had said that State governments should desist from burdening Governors with the role of chancellor of universities lest the extra authority impede them from the discharge of their constitutional obligations.

Secondly, Kerala Government said that the Legislative Assembly had created the office of the chancellor and weaved the legislation into the founding statute that established State universities. Hence, the Assembly was assertively competent to withdraw the Governor’s powers as chancellor.

Who will then be appointed as Chancellor of state-run universities?

The Kerala government wants to replace Kerala Governor with “renowned academic experts” as chancellors of various universities.

But it was still being determined whether the government would appoint a separate chancellor for each of the 14 universities in the State