Archive · 30 Dec 2025
President Returns TN University Bill
The President of India has sent back a bill from Tamil Nadu that wanted to change how the vice chancellor (VC) of the University of Madras is chosen.
Right now, the governor has this power, but the bill wanted the state government to have it instead.
The governor had some worries about this change and sent it to the President for review.
Now, the bill is being sent back to the state government to think about it again.
Many universities in Tamil Nadu, including the University of Madras, have been having trouble because they don't have a regular VC and are being run by temporary committees.
The state government plans to pass the bill again, as similar bills exist in other states like Gujarat, Telangana, and Karnataka.
President Droupadi Murmu returned the Tamil Nadu University of Madras Amendment Bill to the assembly for reconsideration.
The bill aims to transfer the power to appoint and remove the vice chancellor from the governor to the state government.
Governor R N Ravi had reserved the bill for presidential consideration, citing concerns over UGC regulations and established norms.
The University of Madras and 13 other universities in Tamil Nadu have been functioning under convenor committees due to the absence of regular VCs.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly passed the bill in April 2022 and sent it for presidential assent.
- Who
- President Droupadi Murmu, Governor R N Ravi, Tamil Nadu Assembly
- What
- Return of the Tamil Nadu University of Madras Amendment Bill
- When
- December 30 (exact date of return not specified)
- Where
- Tamil Nadu, India
- Why
- Concerns over conflict with UGC regulations and established norms for VC appointments
- Bill Purpose
- To amend the University of Madras Act, transferring VC appointment power from the governor to the state government
- Bill Status
- Returned by the President for reconsideration
- Governor's Action
- Reserved the bill for presidential consideration citing UGC regulation concerns
- University Status
- Functioning under convenor committees due to lack of regular VCs
- Number of Affected Universities
- 14 out of 22 varsities in Tamil Nadu
- Bill Passage Date
- April 2022
- President's Action Date
- December 30 (exact date of return not specified)
