Mon Nov 17 17:16:54 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for December 2nd regarding a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government. The petition challenges a Madras High Court interim order that prevents the state government from appointing Vice-Chancellors to state-run universities. The state argues that the High Court’s stay contradicts a previous Supreme Court judgment indicating the Governor had already given ‘deemed assent’ to the relevant Acts. The Union government, represented by the Solicitor General, requested an adjournment pending the outcome of a Presidential Reference on the Governor’s power concerning State Bills. The Tamil Nadu government asserts the High Court overstepped and argues for state autonomy in administering its universities.
News Article:
Tamil Nadu’s University Appointment Dispute Heads to Supreme Court
New Delhi, November 17, 2025 – The Supreme Court will hear on December 2nd a crucial petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging an interim order by the Madras High Court that has stalled the state’s ability to appoint Vice-Chancellors to state-run universities.
The High Court’s order effectively stayed nine Acts passed by the Tamil Nadu legislature, which transferred the power of Vice-Chancellor appointments from the Governor to the state government. Tamil Nadu, represented by senior advocates A.M. Singhvi and P. Wilson, is pushing for a swift resolution, arguing that the appointments are currently in limbo.
However, Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, representing the University Grants Commission, requested an adjournment. He suggested that the Court should await the imminent opinion of a Constitution Bench on a Presidential Reference concerning the Governor’s powers to assent to or refer State Bills to the President.
The Tamil Nadu government contends that the High Court’s stay contradicts an earlier Supreme Court ruling, dating back to April 8th, 2025, which had declared the Acts in question to have received ‘deemed assent’ from the Governor, R.N. Ravi. The state further argues that the High Court’s intervention infringes upon the principles of federalism and the state’s autonomy to manage its universities, as enshrined in the Constitution. The hearing promises to be a significant battleground for defining the relationship between state governments and Governors in matters of higher education.
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