Supreme Court Sets December 2 Hearing on Tamil Nadu's VC Appointment Law Dispute
The case will decide which authority controls vice-chancellor appointments in Tamil Nadu's universities.
Overview
- India’s top court listed for December 2 the state’s challenge to a Madras High Court order that stayed Tamil Nadu’s university amendments.
- The High Court’s May 21 stay halted laws that would move vice-chancellor appointments from the Governor to the elected government.
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged the court to wait for a forthcoming opinion on a Presidential Reference concerning timelines for gubernatorial assent to bills.
- Senior advocates for Tamil Nadu sought urgent hearing, noting 14 of 22 state universities are without vice-chancellors and arguing the issue is distinct from the Reference.
- Tamil Nadu has also asked the Supreme Court to transfer the pending PIL from the High Court, as the writ-petitioner contends the amendments conflict with UGC regulations on the Chancellor’s role.