TN Assembly rejects Governor’s proposal to amend Siddha Varsity Bill as unconstitutional

In a fresh round of confrontation between the Raj Bhavan and the DMK government of MK Stalin, the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution rejecting the proposals of Governor RN Ravi to amend the Siddha University Bill with the chief minister castigating them as against the Constitution and Rules of Procedures of the House.

“The power to make laws rests solely with the Assembly and only the members of the Assembly have the right to propose amendments when a Bill is under consideration. It is violative of Article 207 (3) of the Constitution,” Stalin asserted, taking strong objection to the remarks of the Governor.

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According to the Siddha varsity Bill, the chief minister will be the Chancellor, who will appoint the vice-chancellor. It removes the Governor as chancellor.

“The Tamil Nadu Siddha Medical University Bill falls under the category of a Finance Bill and hence only requires a recommendation of the Governor prior to its introduction in the Assembly as stipulated under Article 207 (3) of the Constitution. The draft Bill, prepared by the Health and Family Welfare Department and examined by the Law Department after obtaining public opinion and representations, was forwarded to the Governor. However, in contravention of established Constitutional practice, the Governor expressed certain views on specific provisions and said that they should be placed before the members of the House while being introduced,” Stalin explained on the communication received from the Raj Bhavan.

“Before the passage of a Bill by the Assembly, the Governor has no authority to make observations on it. Hence, this is unconstitutional and is against the Rules of Procedures of this Assembly. Only members of the House enjoy the right to propose amendments. As such, the observations received from the Governor cannot be accepted by the House,” he made it clear.

Further, picking holes in the Governor’s communication, Stalin said, “Instead of using the word ‘consideration, he had used ‘appropriate consideration’. What does it mean? It implies that the House should ponder over it in a suitable manner, which is unacceptable since it also implies that the assembly might examine it in an improper manner. Besides lowering the dignity of the House, it is disrespectful.”

Then, a resolution, rejecting the Governor’s remarks, moved by the chief minister, was passed by the assembly and later, Health Minister Ma Subramanian introduced the Bill, seeking to establish a Siddha Medical varsity in Chennai to provide instruction and training in various branches of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy.