Governor Shukla rebukes State Government amidst stalemate over University Vice Chancellor appointments

Tensions seems rising between Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Partap Shukla and the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government, with both parties accusing each other of failing to resolve the stalemate in premier educational institutions and two universities.

During a media interaction at Raj Bhavan on Thursday, the Governor rebutted a statement made by Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar. Shukla criticized the minister for “dragging the Raj Bhavan into controversy with unverified and irresponsible statements.” He clarified that the issue of the search committee for the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Agriculture University, Palampur was not pending at Raj Bhavan.

“My purpose of going to the media is to highlight the real position on the appointment issue of the university. However, I never want to indulge in any confrontation with the state government,” Shukla said. He emphasized that the matter of the appointment file is not pending with him. “The state government has amended the University Act to suggest names for the Vice Chancellor, but in the parent acts, greater power rests with the Governor as Chancellor,” he noted.

Shukla argued, “It is not in the interest of the nation and state to provide all power to the state government to appoint the Vice Chancellor. Men of academic excellence should be appointed for the post, rather than allowing the state to suggest names.” He added that the state government’s claim of providing the budget for state universities, thus justifying control over appointments, is unacceptable. “I returned the file to the state government immediately, but now state government ministers are trying to blame me for the issue,” he said.

The Governor highlighted that the Centre provides 90 percent of the budget for education and universities, making it illogical to ignore the Governor’s role as the representative of the President of India in the state. On the issue of appointing the Vice Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University, he stated, “The state government did not propose any name to me, and therefore Raj Bhavan can’t be blamed.”

Governor Shukla also criticized the Sukhu government for deteriorating law and order, stating, “Himachal Pradesh is a small state, and any law and order issue becomes more visible at the national level.”

Responding to media queries, he also censured the Chief Minister for promoting drinking and intoxication in public places. “It is wrong to facilitate tourists in intoxication in public places rather than confining it to their hotels,” he said.

Shukla’s stern stance towards the state government has become more pronounced after the Lok Sabha election outcomes in Himachal Pradesh and his home state, Uttar Pradesh. It is noteworthy that Shukla censured the Sukhu government at the Ridge Ground in Shimla after the Yoga Day function due to the Congress government’s lackluster response to celebrating International Yoga Day.