The Tamil Nadu government led by Chief Minister MK Stalin notified ten laws on Saturday. It did so without the assent of the Governor or the President. This move was a first in India. The laws came into effect immediately. The government now has full control over appointing vice-chancellors in state universities.
Supreme Court Cleared the Way
The state issued the notification a day after the Supreme Court uploaded its ruling. The court gave its verdict on April 8. It used Article 142 of the Constitution. The judges said the Bills were “deemed approved.” The court also ruled that any action by the President after the Bills were reserved had no legal value. It said the Governor should be treated as having approved the Bills on the date they were first presented. The government noted that Bill No. 48 of 2022 was deemed approved on November 18, 2023.
New Laws Give State Full Power Over Universities
The new Acts gave the state the power to appoint vice-chancellors. They also allowed the government to remove them for failing to do their duties. Earlier, Governor RN Ravi refused to approve these Bills. He later sent them to President Droupadi Murmu.
DMK MP Says History Was Made
DMK MP P Wilson called it a historic event. He said, “Pursuant to the order of the Hon. SC the Tamil Nadu Government has notified the 10 Acts on the Government Gazette and they come into force! History is made as these are the first Acts of any legislature in India to have taken effect without the signature of the Governor / President but on the strength of the judgement of the Supreme Court.” He added, “Our universities will now be cleansed and taken to a new level under the chancellorship of the Governo̶r̶ment!”
Supreme Court Criticised Governor’s Move
The Supreme Court strongly criticised Governor RN Ravi. It said he acted in an “illegal” and “arbitrary” way. The bench included Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan. They ruled that the Governor could not send the Bills to the President after refusing assent. They said, “The action of the Governor to reserve the 10 bills for the President is illegal and arbitrary. Thus, the action is set aside. All actions taken by the Governor thereto for the 10 bills are set aside.” The court said the Bills were cleared from the day they were re-sent to the Governor.
Judges Said Governor Delayed on Purpose
The court also said the Governor did not act in good faith. He held on to the Bills for a long time. He sent them to the President only after the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Punjab Governor case. That ruling said governors should not delay. It also said governors must follow the advice of the council of ministers. The Constitution’s Article 200 makes this clear.