Plea in HC against laws stripping governor of power to appoint V-Cs

Petitioner cites violation of UGC regulations, court directs TN govt to file reply in a week

- R SIVAKUMAR @ Chennai

THE Madras High Court on Wednesday sought the state government's reply to a petition seeking to declare ultra vires the amendment Acts and a gazette notification which take away the powers of the governor-chancellor to appoint vice chancellors to state universities and vest with the state government.

A division bench of justices GR Swaminathan and V Lakshminarayanan directed the government to file the reply within a week while admitting the main petition which prayed for the declaration. However, he adjourned the hearing of the connected petitions seeking interim stay on the operation of the amendment Acts and the notification and further proceedings by a week.