Wed Feb 12 19:07:17 UTC 2025: **Tamil Nadu Governor Again Nominates UGC Member to University Search Committee, Defying State Government**
Chennai, February 13, 2025 – Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi has once again appointed a member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to a university Vice-Chancellor search committee, sparking another clash with the state government. Prof. Shashikala Wanjari, a UGC member and Vice-Chancellor of the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration, has been named the Governor’s nominee for the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS).
This action follows a similar move in November 2022 and underscores the ongoing dispute between the Governor and the state government over the composition of these committees. The state government insists on three-member committees, while the Governor advocates for four-member committees including a nominee from the UGC chairperson. The state’s recent appointment of a senior IAS officer, Atulya Misra, to a search committee for the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University marks a departure from previous practice.
The Raj Bhavan (Governor’s office) has previously challenged the state’s formation of three-member committees, claiming they violate Supreme Court judgments and UGC regulations. The state government’s consistent refusal to include the UGC chairperson’s nominee has led to repeated objections from the Governor. This latest nomination is expected to further escalate the ongoing tension between the state government and the Governor’s office.
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