Maha Govt intends to limit the Governor's influence in VC appointments, with the cabinet approving a plan to modify the law to make it easier

The State Cabinet passed modifications to the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, on Wednesday, in a serious attempt to curtail the Governor's authority. The amendment allows the state government to suggest names for Vice-Chancellors to the Governor. The Governor is currently the chancellor of the state's institutions, and he chooses vice-chancellors based on nominations from a committee. The Cabinet also approved a proposal to amend the Maharashtra Public Universities Act to add section 9(A), which will make the Higher and Technical Education Minister the Pro-Chancellor of the universities.

The governor would no longer be allowed to personally select Vice-Chancellors based on the committee's recommendations as a result of the legislation. Instead, the committee will now nominate five names for Vice-Chancellor, of which the state government would pick two and send to the Governor, who also serves as chancellor. A Vice-Chancellor is appointed by the chancellor on the recommendation of a committee that includes the chancellor's nominee, who is a retired Supreme Court or high court judge, the Principal Secretary of the Higher and Technical Education Department, and the Director or Head of a National Reputed Institute established by an Act of Parliament.

The government also aims to alter the composition of the committee. In the case of the pro-vice-chancellor, the vice-chancellor will make recommendations to the state government, which will then make three recommendations to the Chancellor (Governor). One of these three individuals will be named Pro-Vice-Chancellor. On the proposal of a high-level group convened by former University Grants Commission Chairman Sukhdev Thorat, these adjustments were proposed. The group recommended changes to the Maharashtra Public Universities Act to better execute the National Education Policy 2020 and promote quality and excellence.

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