President Droupadi Murmu has returned the University of Madras Amendment Bill, seeking to empower the State government to appoint its Vice Chancellor, an official source said on Tuesday (December 30, 2025). The Tamil Nadu Assembly, which passed the Bill in April 2022, had sent it for Presidential assent, aiming to take control of the 168-year-old university which has been managing the affairs without a Vice Chancellor for over two years. The President had recently returned the Bill to the Assembly for reconsideration, the official said. Ravi had reserved the Bill for presidential consideration citing concerns that the proposed move would be in conflict with the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulation and established norms governing V-C appointments. About 14 out of 22 varsities, including the University of Madras, have been functioning under convenor committees in the absence of regular VCs.

Source: The Hindu December 30, 2025 20:39 UTC