Governor as Chancellor
University Governance Disputes
In most Indian states, the Governor serves as the ex-officio Chancellor of state universities, a convention (not constitutional mandate) established through individual state university acts. This dual role has become increasingly contentious as states seek to control Vice-Chancellor appointments through their elected governments rather than through the Governor.
- Governor-as-Chancellor is not a constitutional provision — it derives from individual state university legislation
- UGC Regulations 2018 (amended 2023): Prescribe a search-cum-selection committee process for VC appointments; require the Chancellor (Governor) to appoint from a panel of names
- States that have attempted to transfer appointment power: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab, Maharashtra
- Supreme Court in Raj Bhavan v. State cases has generally upheld the Governor's role as Chancellor while recognising state governments' legislative competence to amend university acts
- Education is on the Concurrent List (Entry 25, List III, Seventh Schedule) — both Centre and state can legislate
- In Tamil Nadu, 10 bills sought to shift VC appointment power from Governor to the state government — these were the bills that Ravi withheld and the Supreme Court deemed assented
● Tracked since March 05, 2026 · last seen April 02, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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