The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has sharply criticized the Karnataka government's decision to appoint the Chief Minister as the Chancellor of the Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) University, replacing the Governor.
The BJP views this as a significant move that undermines the autonomy of educational institutions and politicizes the higher education system.
The Karnataka cabinet approved the bill on Thursday, which proposes that the Chief Minister will assume the role of Chancellor at RDPR University, situated in Gadag.
This decision marks a departure from the tradition where the Governor holds the position of Chancellor for all public universities in the state. Currently, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot occupies this role, as per the long-standing constitutional practice.
BJP's state president, B.Y. Vijayendra, strongly condemned the decision, calling it a deliberate attempt to dilute the powers of the Governor. He stated that this move could destabilize the constitutional framework of the state.
"The Governor, as the constitutional head, has always been the Chancellor to ensure that politics doesn't interfere with education," Vijayendra remarked. He further expressed concern that such decisions could introduce unnecessary political influence in the management of educational institutions.
In his criticism, Vijayendra accused the Congress-led government, under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, of deliberately weakening the office of the Governor, viewing it as an obstacle to their political agenda.
According to him, this was part of a larger conspiracy to disrupt the constitutional system and promote corruption by mixing politics with education.
"The government’s actions will bring unnecessary political interference into the field of rural development studies, which should remain neutral and focused on education and development," he stated on the social media platform 'X'.
The Karnataka government's move to appoint the Chief Minister as the Chancellor follows a similar attempt in September, when the state cabinet decided to remove the Governor's power to appoint the Vice-Chancellor of RDPR University.
The Congress government has been at odds with the Governor for some time, seeking to reduce his influence in state affairs. This has raised concerns among the opposition, which believes that such actions threaten the balance of power and constitutional integrity.
On the other hand, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil defended the government’s decision, stating that it would enhance the efficiency and functioning of the university.
He argued that the Chief Minister’s role as Chancellor would lead to quicker decision-making processes and make the university more active. Patil also pointed out that similar systems exist in other states, including Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh, where Chief Ministers serve as Chancellors of certain universities.
Follow us
