Governor Ram Naik on Wednesday returned two bills pending before him, asking the Uttar Pradesh government for reconsideration.
The bills are the Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences Bill, 2015, and the IIMT University Meerut Bill, 2016.
“The Governor has returned these two bills for a review,” a Raj Bhawan release said.
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While returning the Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences Bill, Mr Naik said: “University level higher academic institutes are considered as autonomous so that they can function without any pressure.
Administrative powers
“But through the said bill, most of the administrative powers including those of appointments will be entrusted with the chairman (chief secretary of the UP government) and this will adversely affect the autonomy of the university level institute”.
He said the IIMT Bill, on becoming a law, will empower the State government to abolish any university for flouting its provisions with the approval of UGC. The Central body does not have any such power currently.
According to the release, the Governor has sent letters to the Chairman of the Legislative Council and the Speaker of the Assembly, asking them to reconsider on these points by both the Houses of the State legislature.
Mr. Naik has also sent a letter to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in this regard
Azam’s allegation
The development has come at a time when UP Parliamentary Affairs Minister Azam Khan has blamed Raj Bhawan for keeping on hold a bill that allows action against mayors.
He alleged that it appears the Governor was working under the influence of “one particular party”.
Mr. Khan’s reference was to the Uttar Pradesh Nagar Nigam (Amendment) Bill,2015, that was passed last year by the Assembly.
“A bill is pending with the Governor for over a year through which mayors could be removed for financial irregularities. The Governor has stalled the bill giving an impression that he is working under the influence of a party,” Mr. Khan had said in the Assembly.
The bill was not given assent so that mayors could not be punished for their “dishonesty”, Mr. Khan had alleged.
“If there is any problem in the bill, it could be returned or if there is any suggestion, I could be called for a clarification on it. There should be a way out. It was not a disputed bill. There is no intention of victimisation of any mayor through it,” Mr .Khan had said. PTI