Big blow to CM Mann| Prez returns Punjab University Law Amendment Bill 2023; Punjab Guv stays Chancellor: Sources

PTC News Desk: In a major blow to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the President of India Droupadi Murmu returns Punjab University Law Amendment Bill 2023, which proposed changes to replace the Governor of Punjab Banwarilal Purohit with the Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Mann as Chancellor of 11 state-run universities. 

As per the sources, the President of India returned the Punjab Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023, to the Punjab Raj Bhawan without giving assent, sources reveal. 

Officials at the Raj Bhawan also indicate that they are still awaiting updates on two other bills sent for presidential approval.

Punjab University Law Amendment Bill 2023: EXPLAINED 

The Punjab Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was unanimously passed in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in June 2023. 

The bill aimed to transfer the chancellorship of state universities from the Governor of Punjab to Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Mann, a move intended to reduce the influence of the central government on state educational institutions and increase state autonomy.

Other Pending Bills 

This is not the only legislative matter pending at the central level. The President’s office is also yet to make decisions on several other significant bills passed by the Punjab Legislative Assembly

Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023

The Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was unanimously passed in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in June 2023, despite objections from members of the Akali Dal. 

Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023

The Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was unanimously passed in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in June 2023 with a view to bringing about an independent mechanism for the selection and appointment to the post of the Director General of Police (head of the Police Force).

These bills were subsequently sent to the President for consideration.