Panel recommends measures to curtail powers of chancellor

Thiruvananthapuram: In a move aimed at clipping the wings of the governor in his capacity as the university chancellor, the law reforms commission appointed by the state government has recommended it to take adequate steps to relegate the position of chancellor as merely an ornamental one.
The commission headed by N K Jayakumar, former vice-chancellor of National University of Advanced Legal Studies, recommended to the government that the chancellor may be divested of responsibilities that require him to exercise discretionary powers.
It also wanted the government to strip the chancellor of other decision-making powers that require legal knowledge.
The commission proposed the setting up of a University Tribunal, a multi-member expert body consisting of a sitting or former judge of the Supreme Court or high court as chairman, a senior lawyer and an experienced academician as members.
The tribunal should be entrusted with the decision- making that requires legal knowledge.
Matters that require to exercise discretionary powers should be vested with the vice-chancellor or the government.
To circumvent the delay in obtaining consent from the chancellor for statues proposed by the university, a provision should be included whereby the chancellor’s assent to a statute shall be deemed to have been given on the expiry of 60 days from the date on which it has been submitted to the chancellor.
Pro-chancellor to get more authority
The commission proposed necessary clauses to be added to make the position of pro-chancellor ‘relevant’. The minister who is in charge of higher education shall continue to be the pro-chancellor of the university.
“The commission suggests the pro-chancellor shall have the right to call for any information relating to the academic and administrative affairs of the university and such requisition shall be complied with by the university.
“The pro-chancellor shall have the right to bring any matter, which he considers important or a matter involving the policy of the government, to the attention of the chancellor or to any authority or officer of the university and seek appropriate action,” the report said.