Tamil Nadu challenges Governor’s Bill referral in Supreme Court
Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court challenging what it described as the Governor’s “illegal and unconstitutional” decision to refer the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to the President instead of granting his assent.
The State’s writ petition, filed through its Chief Secretary, names the Governor, the Union of India, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) as respondents.
It seeks a declaration that the Governor’s act of reserving the Bill for the President’s consideration is “patently unconstitutional, violative of Articles 163(1) and 200 of the Constitution, and void ab initio.”
The Bill, unanimously passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on April 29, 2025, empowers the State Government to appoint and remove the Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University – powers currently vested with the Governor as Chancellor.
The government argues that the legislation falls squarely within the Concurrent List (Entry 25), making it intra vires of the State Legislature.
According to the petition, the Bill was sent to the Governor for assent on May 6, 2025, along with the Chief Minister’s advice to approve it.
However, on July 14, the Governor referred the Bill to the President, citing alleged conflicts with Clause 7.3 of the UGC Regulations, 2018 – a move the State says exceeds his constitutional authority.