TN Governor’s Conference with Vice-Chancellors Sparks New Controversy Amid Chancellor Role Dispute

A new controversy has started in Tamil Nadu after Governor R.N. Ravi held a conference with Vice-Chancellors of state universities. The event has renewed the ongoing dispute between the Governor’s office and the Tamil Nadu government over who should control the role of Chancellor in universities.

Governor Ravi invited the Vice-Chancellors to Raj Bhavan to discuss various issues in higher education. He shared his views on improving the quality of education and strengthening university systems. However, the Tamil Nadu government raised strong objections to the meeting.

The state government accused the Governor of overstepping his role. It said the Governor acted without consulting the Higher Education Department or the state’s Education Minister. The government claimed that the Governor used his position as Chancellor to control the universities directly, bypassing elected officials.

This is not the first time such a conflict has occurred. In recent months, the DMK-led government has tried to reduce the Governor’s powers in university matters. It even passed a bill in the state assembly to transfer the power of appointing Vice-Chancellors from the Governor to the state government. However, the bill is still waiting for approval from the President of India.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and his party leaders criticized the Governor’s actions and said they violated democratic values. They argued that education policy must stay under the control of the elected government, not the Governor, who holds a ceremonial post.

Meanwhile, supporters of the Governor say he is only doing his duty as Chancellor. They believe he has the right to guide universities and help improve education in the state.

The Vice-Chancellors who attended the meeting have remained mostly silent, but reports say some felt caught in the middle of a political fight.

This latest development shows that the battle over education governance in Tamil Nadu is far from over. As both sides stick to their positions, the issue continues to create tension between Raj Bhavan and the Secretariat.

The people of Tamil Nadu now watch closely to see how this power struggle will affect higher education and the functioning of state universities.