Latest news with #KalaignarUniversity
Hans India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
TN Guv reserves Kalaignar University Bill for President's consideration
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi has reserved for President Droupadi Murmu's consideration the Kalaignar University Bill, which was passed by the state legislative assembly earlier this year, a senior official at the Secretariat said. The Bill proposes the establishment of Kalaignar University in Kumbakonam by bifurcating Bharathidasan University, aiming to cater to the higher education needs of students in Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, and Tiruvarur districts. It is named after former Chief Minister and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, father of incumbent Chief Minister M K Stalin. Once approved, Stalin will serve as its first Vice Chancellor. The Bill is one of two referred to the President by the Governor. The second seeks to amend the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University Act to empower the state government to appoint and remove the Vice Chancellor of the sports university, the official said. Both Bills were passed by the assembly in April and subsequently sent to the Governor for assent. State Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhiaan had earlier announced that the new university would commence operations from the 2025-26 academic year. However, the delay in obtaining assent has hindered the inauguration, the official added.
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
TN governor refers Kalaignar University bill, another to President
R N Ravi CHENNAI: Amid an ongoing legal dispute between Tamil Nadu govt and the Raj Bhavan, governor RN Ravi has referred to President Droupadi Murmu two bills, including one to establish Kalaignar University and another to amend the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University Act to empower govt to appoint and remove the vice-chancellor of the sports varsity. These were among the 18 bills passed by the state legislature during the Budget session that concluded in April. Ravi gave assent to 16 of these bills following a Supreme Court order that set deadlines for such actions. "The governor has informed state govt about sending the two pending bills to the president," said a source. The governor is still sitting on two bills passed last year, one on fiscal responsibilities and the other on cooperative societies. DMK Rajya Sabha MP P Wilson accused the governor of defying the top court's order and the advice of the chief minister and the council of ministers and called for him to be sacked. "This action poses a serious threat to parliamentary democracy. The governor displays continuous blatant disregard for the Constitution and the highest constitutional court." You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai DMK govt's plan to establish Kalaignar University in Kumbakonam, named after late CM M Karunanidhi, involves bifurcating Bharathidasan University. The new university would serve four districts: Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur and Tiruvarur. Higher education minister Govi Chezhiaan said Kalaignar University was envisioned to fulfil the demand for higher education from diverse sections, including from disadvantaged backgrounds, and to increase gross enrolment ratio. The bill to amend the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University Act, introduced by deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, also seeks to include the finance secretary as ex-officio member of the university syndicate.
Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Despite SC verdict, Governor Ravi has not changed yet, alleges TN CM Stalin
Thanjavur , Despite a recent verdict of the Supreme Court fixing deadline for governors over state Bills, Governor R N Ravi has not changed, Chief Minister M K Stalin alleged here on Monday and said that the Tamil Nadu governor has put a Bill, that seeks to set up Kalaignar University, on hold for over 40 days. Addressing a government function here, the chief minister said he is fulfilling people's aspirations by way of state schemes and the warm welcome accorded by people showed their happiness. The leader of opposition, AIADMK chief, Edappadi K Palaniswami is, however, unable to tolerate it and he laments. Hitting out at Palaniswami for asking the status on grievance petitions received by him under Ungal Thoguthiyil Stalin initiative , Stalin said 32,000 persons were provided housing patta and 30,000 were granted pension and 10,000 persons were allotted tenements. On the basis of petitions received, ₹544.20 crore development schemes were formulated and a department, "Muthalvarin Mugavari" was formed to look into the grievance petitions of the people and address them within 30 days. Citing a report in a Tamil daily to underline the speed with which the government worked, he said he would like to make an announcement to further increase that speed. "In order to redress your grievances, Ungaludan Stalin camps will be held beginning July 15 across Tamil Nadu in your areas." In total, 10,000 camps will provide services to the people in rural and urban areas and volunteers would provide people all the required information at their doorsteps. When the government worked day and night for the people, it is natural for the leader of opposition to be jealous. "If he is on the one side, the governor, who works as a puppet of the Union government is on the other side. You know all that he did so far and I will give you a recent example." The Kalaignar University Bill was sent to Governor Ravi. However, the governor has not given his assent to the Bill till now. The CM said: "It was sent on May 2. It is over 40 days. He has not yet given his approval. We thought that he would have changed after the Supreme Court judgment. However, he has not changed. We reminded him several times over the Kalaignar Univesity he given his assent as soon as we had sent it, I would have laid the foundation stone for the university in this function itself." Further, the CM said that he had asked the Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhian to meet the governor in this regard. However, the governor has not yet given an appointment to the minister. Stalin alleged that Ravi is declining to meet the minister as he was afraid that questions may be raised if time was allotted to meet him. Referring to his 50-year long political career, the chief minister said there was no obstacle that he had not seen and that he had faced the infamous MISA law itself. The CM said he had tackled all such situations, the rivals and their conspiracies and only after overcoming all such opposition, he had risen to his present position. "Let us wait," he said. When the situation becomes, "enough is enough," the CM said the government will make the governor to finally agree and Ravi will be constrained to approve the Bill. In an important announcement, Stalin said ₹82.77 crore will be allocated for the "Kuruvai Special Package Scheme," for the Cauvery delta districts to assist farmers. He inaugurated a special package scheme for Kaar-Kuruvai-Sornavari seasons to benefit farmers involved in paddy cultivation in non-delta districts. Expressing happiness in inaugurating the special scheme for non-delta districts, the CM said it was a first in Tamil Nadu's history and ₹132.17 crore has been allotted. The chief minister made several other announcements and it includes measures to protect rare manuscripts at Saraswathi Mahal Library and building a new bridge at a cost of ₹42 crore at a spot where rivers Vennaru and Vettaru separate. Giving data on beneficiaries covered under various flagship schemes of the government in Thanjavur district alone, Stalin said 4.17 lakh beneficiaries receive ₹1,000 assistance every month under the Kalaignar Women Rights Scheme. Seven thousand farmers have been given free power connections and 71,000 petitions have been addressed under the 'Muthalvarin Mugavari' scheme and 40,470 housing 'pattas' have been provided to beneficiaries. "Across Tamil Nadu, in total 14.45 lakh pattas have been given."
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
T.N. Governor has not changed despite Supreme Court verdict, is sitting on Kalaignar University Bill: CM Stalin
Stating that Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi is yet to give assent to the Bill adopted by the State Assembly proposing the establishment of Kalaignar University at Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, on Monday (June 16, 2025) observed that Mr. Ravi has not changed even after the Supreme Court verdict (on the Governor's powers to grant assent to Bills). The decision to name the new university after the former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was taken by the elected MLAs, cutting across party lines, on the floor of the Legislative Assembly. The Bill was adopted unanimously and was sent to the Governor for his assent. But even after 40 days, the Governor has not given his assent till now, despite several reminders, Mr. Stalin said, while speaking at a government function in Thanjavur. The Chief Minister said attempts to take up the matter with the Governor through the Minister for Higher Education did not materialise as the Governor is yet to grant an appointment for the Minister. Had the Governor granted assent to the Bill, the foundation stone for the new university could have been laid today along with other new projects. 'We will wait with patience; if we run out of patience, we will force the Governor to give in,' Mr. Stalin asserted. The State government was executing its duties without fail, despite the Union government's partiality in allocation of funds, Mr. Stalin said. He announced that a new scheme, christened, Ungaludan Stalin would be launched on July 15, wherein special camps would be organised to receive petitions from the public and take government schemes and services to the doorstep of the people . While 3,768 camps would be organised in urban areas, 6,232 camps would be held in rural areas. Women eligible to avail assistance under the Kalaignar Mahalir Urimai Thogai scheme can submit their applications at the camps. A team of volunteers would be visiting every household to guide the people on how to apply for the welfare and other schemes implemented by the government and guide them in filing applications and uploading documents to be submitted to avail the benefits, he added. Making a special reference to the Sarasvati Mahal Library in Thanjavur, the Chief Minister said sufficient funds would be allotted in addition to the allocation of ₹75 lakhs per annum for the upkeep of manuscripts and other treasures at the library and creation of additional infrastructure facilities apart from ensuring distribution of pension to the retired staff. The library's heritage buildings would be renovated by the Public Works Department at a cost of ₹12.50 crore. Mr. Stalin announced that the kuruvai special package scheme would be implemented in the delta districts at an outlay of ₹82.77 crore. He inaugurated 2,461 projects implemented at a cost of ₹3,25.96 crore in Thanjavur district, laid foundations for 4,127 projects worth ₹309.48 crore and distributed assistance under various welfare schemes to the tune of ₹558.43 crore to 2,25,383 beneficiaries in Thanjavur district.
New Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CM will be chancellor of proposed Kalaignar University, bill tabled
CHENNAI: Giving effect to the announcement made by Chief Minister M K Stalin a few days ago, Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhiyan on Monday introduced a bill to establish the by bifurcating the Bharathidasan University in Tiruchy, which covers eight districts. Significantly, chief minister will be the chancellor of the new university. So far, the Tamil Nadu Dr J Jayalalithaa Music and Fine Arts University is the sole exception where the CM holds the position of chancellor. 'The chief minister of the state of Tamil Nadu shall be the chancellor of the Kalaignar University. He shall, by virtue of his office, be the head of the university and shall, when present, preside at any convocation of the university and confer degrees, titles, diplomas or other academic distinctions upon persons entitled to receive them,' the bill tabled in the Assembly said. The higher education minister shall be the pro-chancellor of this university and in the absence of the chancellor or during the chancellor's inability to act, the pro-chancellor shall exercise all the powers and perform all duties of the chancellor. The Bharathidasan University covers a large area comprising eight districts – Ariyalur, Karur, Nagapattinam, Perambalur, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruchy and Tiruvarur. 'To fulfil the ever-growing demands of higher education from diverse sections of the society and also to fulfil the aspirations of the youth, especially in the delta region, from disadvantaged background to enter higher education institutions and also to increase the gross enrolment ratio in the said region, the establishment of Kalaignar University is essentially required,' the bill explained. The proposed Kalaignar University would provide world-class facilities and disseminate knowledge for the upliftment of the marginalised living in the districts of Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur and Thiruvarur, the bill stated, pointing out that after the establishment of the Kalaignar University in Kumbakonam, the Bharathidasan University will cover the area comprising districts of Tiruchy, Karur, Perambalur and Pudukkottai. The headquarters of the Kalaignar University will be located within the limits of Kumbakonam city municipal corporation or in any place within a radius of 25 km around those limits, the bill stated. V Pari, regional secretary of the TNGCTA and senate member of Bharathidasan University, said the university currently oversees two regional joint directorates of collegiate education- one in Tiruchy and another in Thanjavur. 'With the bifurcation, the Thanjavur directorate will now come under Kalaignar University, which will simplify and streamline the administrative processes,' he added. Make CM chancellor of all state varsities: Teachers' association CHENNAI: The Association of University Teachers (AUT) on Monday urged the state government to bring further amendments to the State Universities Act to make chief minister the chancellor of state universities. In a memorandum to the higher education minister, the association said the recent amendments to the Acts governing 10 state universities, facilitating the appointment of vice-chancellors by the state government, were appreciable. However, further changes were necessary to remove the governor's role as chancellor in 19 of the 21 universities. The AUT said the move will ensure autonomy of universities and strengthen the federal structure of governance. 'If the governor continues to have powers to interfere in the affairs of state universities, it will affect their functioning. The state government should bring further amendments to take complete control of the universities,' said AUT president MS Bala Murugan.
