Varsities Bill: Governor seeks clarifications

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, SEPT. 10. The Governor, Ms. V.S. Rama Devi, is reported to have sought some clarifications from the Government with regard to the Karnataka State Universities Bill, 2000 passed by the two Houses of the Legislature.

The Bill, as passed by the Legislature, was vetted by a joint select committee of the two Houses. It was referred to the Governor, a former Union Law Secretary, for her assent.

The Minister of State for Higher Education, Dr. G. Parameshwar, said here today that he was not aware of the details sought by the Governor. His comments were sought on reports in a section of the press that the Governor had returned the Bill exercising her authority under Article 200 of the Constitution. He added that the Advocate-General, Mr. A.N. Jayaram, would clarify the points raised by the Governor.

The Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr. D.B. Chandre Gowda, had been quoted by a television channel as confirming the Governor's action with regard to the Bill. He is away in Chikmagalur District and was not available for comment.

Under Article 200, the Governor can give his/her assent, withhold assent or return any Bill to the Legislature with a message to reconsider it. Under Article 201, the Governor can reserve any Bill for the assent of the President of India.

There are hardly any precedents in Karnataka or erstwhile Mysore of the Governor returning a Bill. However, there are several cases of the holder of the office seeking clarifications. Some time ago, the Governor had sought clarifications on the Bill on reservation for rural candidates.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Mr. K.H. Srinivasa, told presspersons today that the Governor had done the right thing with regard to the Bill. That was what the Opposition parties wanted her to do. He told the Government to reconsider the Bill.

To a question, Mr. Srinivasa denied that the Opposition members had complimented the minister concerned, Dr. Parameshwar, in the Council. It was only in the Assembly that the Opposition had praised him. The Opposition had gone hammer and tongs against the Bill in the Council, though in the end they allowed its adoption.

Mr. Srinivasa noted that the Bill had no answer to ticklish issues which might arise in the working of the Bill, for instance, when the Governor and the Government failed to agree on the choice of a vice-chancellor. There was no solution to such a deadlock in the Bill.

The Karnataka State Universities Bill, which is an omnibus one, says, among other things, that the Chancellor must appoint the vice-chancellors with the concurrence (not mere consultation) of the Government, and abolishes elections to the university bodies. It also seeks to abolish the university senates.

In 1983, the then Governor had reserved the State's Comprehensive Education Bill for the assent of the President of India. The President gave his assent after a long time.

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Section  : Southern States
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