Recently, a controversy has erupted in Kerala over the reappointment of Gopinath Ravindran as the Vice Chancellor of Kannur University. Governor Arif Mohammed Khan stated that he approved the decision against his “better judgement” as Chancellor.
What role Governors play in state universities?
In most of the instances Governor of a state acts as the ex-officio chancellor of the universities in that state. The powers and functions of Governor as the Chancellor are provided in statutes governing the universities under any particular state government.
Role of Governors in state universities
• However, the role of Governor in appointing the Vice Chancellors has often led to disputes with the political executive.
• In Kerala, there is a dispute over the role of governor. Governor’s official portal in Kerala says that “as Governor he functions with the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, as Chancellor he acts independently of the Council of Ministers and takes his own decisions on all University matters”.
The role of governor in Rajasthan is in contrast to that in Kerala. The website of Rajasthan’s Raj Bhawan states that the “Governor appoints the Vice Chancellor on the advice/ in consultation with the State Government”.
Kerala Controversy
In the month of November 2021, Gopinath Ravindran was re-appointed as VC in Kannur University for another four years. He is above 60 whereas according to Kannur University Act, no person aged above 60 shall be appointed as VC. Furthermore, state government had recently amended the University Act under which powers of Governor as Chancellor to make appointments to University Appellate Tribunal were done away with.
Governors of the states
Governors of the states have similar powers and functions at the state level as those of the President of India at Central level. Governors exist in the states while Lieutenant Governors or Administrators exist in union territories including National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Governors act as the nominal head in the states while real power lies with Chief Ministers of the states and her/his councils of ministers.
