Tamil Nadu moves Supreme Court against Governor for reserving Kalaignar University Bill for President’s assent

The Tamil Nadu government has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging Governor RN Ravi’s decision to reserve the Kalaignar University Bill, 2025, for the consideration of the President of India instead of granting assent as advised by the Council of ministers.

RN Ravi has reserved for President Droupadi Murmu’s consideration the Kalaignar University Bill, which was passed by the state legislative assembly earlier this year, a senior official at the Secretariat told the PTI.

The petition stated that the Governor’s action is “illegal, patently unconstitutional, void-ab-initio", and violated Articles 163(1) and 200 of the Constitution, which mandates the Governor to act on the aid and advice of the state Cabinet except in matters where discretion is explicitly allowed.

The writ petition was settled by senior advocate P Wilson and filed by advocate-on-record Misha Rohatgi Mohta.

Also read Tamil Nadu gets pending SSA funds from Centre after court order; RTE admissions from October 9

Kalaignar University Bill 2025

The Bill proposes the establishment of Kalaignar University in Kumbakonam by bifurcating Bharathidasan University, aiming to cater to the higher education needs of students in Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, and Tiruvarur districts.

It is named after former Chief Minister and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, father of incumbent Chief Minister M K Stalin. Once approved, Stalin will serve as its first Vice Chancellor.

The Bill is one of two referred to the President by the Governor. The second seeks to amend the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University Act to empower the state government to appoint and remove the Vice Chancellor of the sports university, the official said.

Both Bills were passed by the assembly in April and subsequently sent to the Governor for assent.

State Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhiaan had earlier announced that the new university would commence operations from the 2025-26 academic year. However, the delay in obtaining assent has hindered the inauguration, the official added.

(With inputs from PTI)