Karnataka government limits Governor’s authority in V-C appointments.

In a bold move, the Siddaramaiah administration in Bengaluru has decided to strip Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot of the power to appoint the vice-chancellor of the Karnataka State Rural Development & Panchayat Raj University. This decision, approved during a Cabinet meeting in Kalaburagi, marks a significant shift in the balance of power between the government and the Raj Bhavan.

The government is also planning to extend its control over vice-chancellor appointments in other state-run universities by limiting the Governor’s authority. This move comes in the wake of a conflict between the government and Gehlot over an investigation into a corruption scandal involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

While the government assures that the current system of using a search committee to shortlist candidates for the vice-chancellor position will remain in place, it emphasizes that it is the major stakeholder in the functioning of universities. A draft bill to amend the Karnataka State Universities Act is in the works, with potential amendments affecting other universities like the Visvesvaraya Technological University and Karnataka State Open University.

If Gehlot rejects the bill, the government may resort to promulgating an ordinance to push through the changes. This move echoes previous attempts by other ministers to exert control over vice-chancellor appointments, signaling a potential power struggle in Karnataka’s higher education sector.

Published on 18 September 2024, 21:07 IST.

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