President Droupadi Murmu has returned the University of Madras (Amendment) Bill to the Tamil Nadu government without assent, delivering a significant setback to the DMK administration's attempts to centralize control over vice-chancellor appointments in state universities. The decision intensifies the ongoing conflict between the state government and Governor RN Ravi regarding administrative oversight of higher education institutions.

The Bill, enacted by the Tamil Nadu Assembly in April 2022, proposed replacing references to the "chancellor"—the Governor's ex-officio role—with "government," thereby shifting authority for appointing and removing vice-chancellors from the Governor to the elected state administration. Governor Ravi had reserved the legislation for presidential consideration, raising objections over potential violations of University Grants Commission guidelines and national norms.

With the President's refusal to grant assent, Tamil Nadu must now reconsider the legislation entirely, according to higher education department officials. The exact reasons provided by the President's office remain undisclosed, though the move aligns with concerns about maintaining constitutional balances in university governance.

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The development exacerbates leadership crises across Tamil Nadu's state universities, where 14 of 22 institutions currently operate without permanent vice-chancellors, including the historic University of Madras, vacant since August 2023. Faculty members report disruptions in academic planning, research initiatives, and administrative efficiency due to reliance on interim convenor committees.

While the state government explores legal and legislative avenues in response, the episode underscores persistent tensions previously addressed by the Supreme Court, which earlier intervened in similar disputes involving vice-chancellor appointments across multiple universities.

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