Overview

• The Tamil Nadu government appealed to the Supreme Court on June 3 to overturn the Madras High Court’s May 21 stay on nine amendment acts governing vice-chancellor appointments in state universities.
• The High Court stayed the amendments under the doctrine of repugnancy, citing conflict with the University Grants Commission Regulations of 2018.
• The state contends the vacation bench acted beyond court hours without allowing it to file a counter affidavit, undermining the presumption of constitutionality.
• On April 8 the Supreme Court invoked Article 142 to deem these bills assented, ruled Governor RN Ravi’s withholding of assent illegal, and imposed a three-month deadline for presidential action.
• Tamil Nadu’s petition frames the dispute as a broader test of federalism and state autonomy over university governance and legislative authority.