Guv no longer chancellor of state-run varsities as per SC order: DMK leader

In the wake of the Supreme Court judgment over the 10 Bills of the Tamil Nadu assembly and matters related to its assent, involving the state government and the office of the governor, a DMK leader on Tuesday said governor R.N. Ravi ceases to be the chancellor of state-run universities as per the court verdict.

In the aftermath of the judgment, when reporters asked if the chief minister would be the chancellor of state-run varsities or if the state government would appoint chancellors, senior advocate and DMK Rajya Sabha MP P. Wilson said the 10 Bills include those pertaining to the removal of the governor from universities in which he held the office of de facto chancellor.

"As per the apex court judgment, the governor is deemed to have granted assent (to the Bills) and hence, the governor is relieved from that (chancellor) post effective today," he said. Further, Wilson said a person to be nominated by the Tamil Nadu government, in accordance with the provisions of the Bills, would be the chancellor.

Party sources, however, indicated that the chief minister would be the chancellor of state-run varsities.

To a question on the prospects of the office of governor or the Centre appealing against the apex court judgment, Wilson said, "Whatever petition they may file we will oppose it."

Asked about the recent rejection of a Bill by the President, which sought to exempt Tamil Nadu from the ambit of NEET (National Eligibility Entrance Test), he said the present judgment had nothing to do with the national medical entrance test.

In a social media post, Wilson said: "I thank the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India for today’s landmark judgement upholding the Constitution, democracy and reaffirming the States’ rights and autonomy. I thank my leader the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu @mkstalin for entrusting me with the responsibility of conducting this case. I thank my learned brother senior advocates Mr Mukul Rohatgi, Mr Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Mr Rakesh Dwivedi for appearing in this case and devoting their valuable time and energy."

Earlier on Tuesday, Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin welcomed the Supreme Court's verdict on the issue of Tamil Nadu governor R.N. Ravi's pending assent to Bills adopted by the state assembly, hailing it as 'historic' and a victory for all state governments in the country.

The SC ruled that the Bills are now considered as having gained the Governor's assent, Stalin told the assembly, shortly after the apex court's order was released.

Hailing the Supreme Court's 'historic' judgment, deputy chief minister and Stalin's son Udhayanidhi Stalin said "Tamil Nadu's legal battle has once again shone light on the entire nation." The Supreme Court made it clear that the Governor's act of reserving 10 Bills for the President's consideration is illegal and legally erroneous.

"Significantly, the Court has also held that the Governor cannot indefinitely withhold assent, and it has set a timeframe — ranging from one to three months — within which Governors must act on bills passed by State Assemblies," Udhayanidhi said in a post on X.

"Our Hon'ble Chief Minister MK Stalin has once again registered a significant victory in his steadfast commitment to protect state rights and resist attempts to impose a unitary structure on the country," he also said.

Tamil Nadu would continue to fight and will continue to win. "Our spirit and our resolve remain unshakable. #StateRights #Federalism #TamilnaduLeads," he added.