The relationship between the Governor and the Kerala government has been going from bad to worse and the possibility of an open confrontation has opened up. About a fortnight back, the Governor had refused to re-promulgate eleven ordinances which had lapsed, consequently.
The Vice Chancellor of the Kannur University has been on a running tussle with the Chancellor - the Governor, of course - on many counts, the latest being the appointment of Ms Priya Varghese, w/o KK Ragesh, the private secretary to the chief minister, as an Associate Professor. Lacking qualification, she has been put first on the merit list, through questionable means.
A special Assembly session has been called from yesterday to enact the bills in place of the lapsed ordinances. The Government will endeavour to pass the bills during this session. However, two of the bills are raising a lot of heat.
1. The Lok Ayukta (Amendment) Bill
This piece of legislation aims to curtail the powers of the anti-corruption ombudsman with a major change. The Assembly will now be competent to take a call on accepting or rejecting the Lok Ayukta's verdict against the chief minister.
This is basically to allow the Assembly the power to review Lok Ayukta's verdicts related to the chief minister. Following on that, the chief minister will, in turn, take a call to review verdicts involving ministers. Further, the speaker will be empowered to take a call on verdicts concerning the MLAs!
My take
A classic case of setting a thief to catch a thief! Why, then, have a sham of a Lok Ayukta?
# 25 Aug. And here's the latest. Yesterday, after tabling the bill, it was sent to a select committee that met in the evening. As per its recommendations, the Lok Ayukta would not have the power to probe into allegations against political leaders.
My take, yet again
So, all our political leaders are clean.....can you beat that?
2. Varsity Laws Amendment Bill
The University Laws Amendment Bill-2022 is part of the state government's move to cut the powers of the governor in his duties as 'Chancellor of the Universities'.
The dynamics of the bill which the LDF government wants to push through are:-
* Restrict the Governor's role in the appointment of the VC, by increasing the number of members in the search committee, to choose the VCs in various universities, from three to five. The earlier search committees comprised nominees of the Governor, the UGC and the university senate's representative but now the enhanced committee will also see nominees of the state government and State Higher Education Council. (A quid pro quo for the government nominee to be cleared by the Governor - at all costs - with no discretion on his part).
* The retirement age of the VCs enhanced from 60 to 65.
Not to forget the fact that the contentious issue of the Kannur University VC Gopinath Ravindran's reappointment will get regularised once the bill is passed in the Assembly!
My take
What a tasteless way of carrying out business in the Assembly! And what happens to the bills passed by the special session of the Assembly if the Governor does not give his assent?
Tailpiece.
Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9.
Another of those quiet days.
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