The Tamil Nadu government has approached the Supreme Court challenging Governor R N Ravi’s decision to reserve the Kalaignar University Bill, 2025 for the President’s consideration, terming the move unconstitutional and contrary to the provisions of the Constitution.
In its petition, the state government sought a declaration that the governor’s decision and “all consequential acts arising therefrom” are illegal, patently unconstitutional, and void ab-initio. It further urged the apex court to direct the governor to act under Article 200 of the Constitution — which governs assent to bills — strictly in accordance with the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.
Governor Ravi had earlier reserved the Kalaignar University Bill for the approval of President Droupadi Murmu, instead of granting assent as advised by the state Cabinet. The Bill, passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in April this year, proposes the establishment of Kalaignar University at Kumbakonam by bifurcating Bharathidasan University.
The university is designed to serve students from the districts of Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, and Tiruvarur. It is named after late DMK patriarch and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, father of the incumbent Chief Minister M K Stalin. The legislation also envisages Stalin serving as the university’s first Vice Chancellor.
The Kalaignar University Bill is not the only legislation reserved for presidential consideration. The governor has also referred another Bill seeking to amend the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University Act. The amendment would empower the state government to appoint and remove the Vice Chancellor of the sports university.
Both Bills, passed in April, were sent to the governor for assent but have since been held up.
Tamil Nadu’s Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhiaan had earlier announced that Kalaignar University would commence operations from the 2025–26 academic year. However, the prolonged delay in obtaining assent has stalled the inauguration process.
The petition brings into sharp focus the recurring friction between the state government and Raj Bhavan over the role of governors in the legislative process. By invoking Article 200, the Tamil Nadu government is seeking judicial intervention to reiterate that governors must act on the aid and advice of the elected state Cabinet, except in rare circumstances.
The Supreme Court is expected to hear the matter in the coming days.
