GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU

LAW DEPARTMENT
THE TAMIL NADU STATE COUNCIL FOR HIGHER EDUCATION ACT, 1992.
(TAMIL NADU ACT 40 OF 1992)
(As modified upto the 30th June 1994)
REFERENCES TO PAPERS CONNECTED WITH THE PRINCIPAL ACT
1. The Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education Act, 1992.
(Tamil Nadu Act 40 of 1992)
(For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Part IV-Section 1 of the Tamil Nadu
Government Gazette Extraordinary, dated the 10th July 1992 (Pages 145-152).
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTIONS:
1.

Short title, extent application and commencement.

2.

Definitions.

3.

Establishment of Council for Higher Education.

4.

Composition of Council.

5.

Disqualification for membership of Council.

6.

Terms and conditions of service of Vice-Chairman and nominated and co-opted members.

7.

Terms and conditions of service of Member-Secretary.

8.

Removal from membership of Council.

9.

Filling-up of casual vacancy.

10.

Powers and functions of Council.

11.

Meetings of Council.

12.

Staff of Council.

13.

Budget of Council.

14.

Fund of Council.

15.

Annual Accounts and Audit.

16.

Annual Report.

17.

Power to issue directions.

18.

Proceedings of Council not to be invalidated by infirmities.

19.

Members and employees of Council to be public servants.

20.

Protection of action taken in good faith.

21.

Power to make rules.

22.

Power to make regulations.

23.

Power to remove difficulties.

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TAMIL NADU STATE COUNCIL FOR HIGHER EDUCATION ACT, 1992
(TAMIL NADU ACT 40 OF 1992)
(As modified upto the 30th June 1994)
(Received the assent of the Governor on the 10th July 1992 and published in the Tamil Nadu
Government Gazette Extraordinary, dated the 10th July 1992.)
As Act to provide for the establishment of a State Council for Higher Education in the State of
Tamil Nadu and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.
WHEREAS the National Policy on Education, 1986 of the Government of India contains
recommendations that the State level planning and co-ordination of higher education shall be
done through the State Councils for higher Education;
AND WHEREAS the University Grants Commission constituted a committee to make
recommendations regarding the setting up of State Councils for Higher Education as per the
aforesaid National Policy;
AND WHEREAS the said committee recommended that there is a pressing need for an effective
machinery for promotion and co-ordination of Higher Education at the State level and coordination of State level programmes with those of the University Grants Commission;
AND WHEREAS the University Grants Commission has laid down the guidelines for setting up
of State Councils for Higher Education as recommended by the said committee;
AND WHEREAS the State Government have accordingly decided to establish a State Council
for Higher Education as recommended in the National Policy on Education of the Government of
India and by the University Grants Commission.
BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Tamil Nadu in the Forty third Year of
the Republic of India as follows:
Short title
extent,
application
commencement.

1.(1) This Act may be called the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education Act, 1992.
(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Tamil Nadu.
(3) It applies to all the Universities, Colleges and Institutions of higher education.
(4) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification, appoint.

Definitions

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,

(a) college means any college or any institution maintained or approved by, or affiliated
to, any University and providing courses of study for admission to the examination of the
University and includes autonomous college;
(b) Council means the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education established under
section 3;
(c) degree means a degree in Arts, Science, Commerce, Teaching, Management Science,
Oriental Languages, Engineering, Technology, Law or such other degree recognized by any
University and includes a post-graduate degree;
(d) diploma means any diploma awarded by any University but does not include a
certificate;
(e) Government means the State Government;

3
(f) higher education means education, whether professional, technical or otherwise,
leading to the obtaining of any degree or diploma from any University;
(g) institution of higher education means an institution conducting any course of study in
higher education, which is approved as such by the Government in consultation with the Council;
(h) member means a member of the Council and includes the Chairman, the ViceChairman, the Member-Secretary and the co-opted member;
(i) regulations means the regulations made by the Council under this Act;
(j) University means the Madras University, the Annamalai University, the MaduraiKamaraj University, the Anna University, the Bharathiar University, the Bharathidasan
University, the Tamil University, the Mother Teresa Womens University, the Alagappa
University, the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, or such other University that maybe
established in the State of Tamil Nadu under any law made by the Legislature of the State of
Tamil Nadu to which the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 applies;

Central Act 3 of
1956

(k) University Grants Commission means the University Grants Commission established
under section 4 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.

Central Act 3 of
1956

3. (1) There shall be established a Council by the name the Tamil Nadu State Council for
Higher Education

Establishment of
Council for
Higher
Education

(2) The Council shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal
and shall sue and be sued by the said name.
(3) The headquarters of the Council shall be located at Madras.
4. The Council shall consist of the following members, namely:(a) The Minister in-charge of Education, who shall be the Chairman, ex-officio;
(b) the Vice-Chairman appointed by the Government from among persons having
experience in the field of education;
(bb) the Secretary to Governor, ex-officio;
(c) the Secretary to Government in-charge of Education ex-officio;
(d) the Secretary to Government in-charge of Finance, ex-officio;
(e) the Secretary, University Grants Commission or his nominee, ex-officio;
(f) the Director of Collegiate Education, ex-officio;
(g) the Director of Technical Education, ex-officio;
(h) one member nominated by the Government from among the eminent academicians or
educational administrators;
(i) one member nominated by the Government from among the eminent scientists or
engineers;
(j) one member nominated by the Government from among industrialists of high repute who
have contributed to the cause of higher education;
(k) two members nominated by the Government from among the Vice-Chancellors of the
Universities including Vice-Chancellors of Central Universities in this State, if any;

(Composition of
Council)

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(l) not more than three eminent educationists co-opted by the Council; and
(m) a full time Member-Secretary appointed by the Government.
Disqualification
for membership
of Council

5. A person shall be disqualified for being appointed as Vice-Chairman or for being nominated
or co-opted as a member of the Council or for being such Vice-Chairman nominated or co-opted
member, if(a) he is of unsound mind;
(b) he is an applicant to be adjudicated as insolvent or is an undischarged insolvent;
(c) he has been sentenced for any offence involving moral turpitude, punishable under any
law with imprisonment, such sentence not having been annulled and a period of five years has
not elapsed from the date of expiration of the sentence;
(d) he is a paid officer or employee of the Council; or
(e) he incurs such other disqualifications as may be prescribed by the Government.

Terms and
conditions of
service of ViceChairman and
nominated and
co-opted
members

6. (1) The Vice-Chairman and the nominated and co-opted members shall hold office for a
term of three years and shall be eligible for re-appointment or re-nomination or co-option for a
further term of three years;
Provided that for the purpose of this sub-section, a person who has held office as ViceChairman or a nominated or co-opted member in a casual vacancy for a period of not less than
one year shall be deemed to have held office for a full term of office.
(2) The Vice-Chairman or the nominated or co-opted member may, by writing under his
hand addressed to the Government or the Council, as the case may be, resign his office but he
shall continue to hold office until his resignation is accepted by the Government or, as the case
may be, by the Council.
(3) Subject to the provisions of this section, the terms and conditions of service of the ViceChairman and the nominated and co-opted members shall be such as may be prescribed.
(4) The Vice-Chairman shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as may be
prescribed.

Terms and
conditions of
service of the
MemberSecretary

7. (1) The terms and conditions of service of the Member-Secretary shall be such as may be
prescribed.
(2) The Member-Secretary shall exercise the powers and perform the functions conferred or
imposed on him under this Act and such other powers and functions as may be prescribed.

Removal from
membership of
Council

8. If, at anytime, it appears to the Government that the Vice-Chairman or a nominated or coopted member has shown himself to be unsuitable for office or has been guilty of misconduct or
neglect which renders his removal expedient, the Government may, after giving the ViceChairman or such nominated or co-opted member, as the case may be, a reasonable opportunity
of showing cause, by notification, remove the Vice-Chairman or such nominated or co-opted
member, as the case maybe, from the office.

Filling up of
casual vacancy

9. If a casual vacancy occurs in the office of the Vice-Chairman or of a nominated or co-opted

member, either by reason of his death resignation, removal or otherwise, such vacancy shall be
filled up, as soon as may be, by the Government or by the Council, as the case may be, and such
Vice-Chairman or nominated or co-opted member shall hold office only for the remainder of the
term for which the person whose place he fills would have been the Vice-Chairman or, a
nominated or co-opted member, as the case may be.

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10.(1) The functions of the Council shall be to co-ordinate and determine standards in
institutions for higher education, or research and scientific and technical institutions in
accordance with the guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission, from time to time.
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1), the Council shall (a) prepare consolidated programmes in the sphere of higher education in the State
keeping in view the overall priorities and perspectives of higher education in the State and
guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission and assist in their implementation;
(b) assist the University Grants Commission in respect of determination and
maintenance of standards and suggest remedial action wherever necessary;
(c) evolve perspective plans for development of higher education in the State;
(d) forward the developmental programmes of Universities, colleges and institutions of
higher education to the University Grants Commission along with its comments and
recommendations and monitor the progress of implementation of such developmental
programmes;
(e) suggest ways and means for augmenting additional resources for higher education
in the State;
(f) formulate norms for starting new institutions for higher education in accordance
with the guidelines issued by the Government and University Grants Commission;
(g) suggest ways and means for augmenting additional resources for higher education
in the State;
(h) encourage and promote innovations in curriculum development, restructuring and
updating of syllabi in Universities, colleges and institutions of higher education;
(i) promote and co-ordinate programmes of Universities and colleges, set up a
monitoring system and monitor its implementation;
(j) devise methods and steps to improve the standard of examinations conducted by the
Universities and autonomous colleges and suggest necessary reforms;
(l) develop programmes for effective academic co-operation and interaction between
the faculties in the Universities and colleges and also provide mobility of teachers and students in
and outside the State;
(m) regulate the admission in Universities, colleges and institutions of higher
education;
(n) encourage sports, games, physical education and cultural activities in the
Universities and colleges;
(o) encourage extension activities and promote interaction between Universities and
industries through effective consultance in special areas relevant to the Universities and regional
planning development;
(p) prepare an overview report on the working of the colleges and furnish a copy of the
report to the University Grants Commission;
(q) identify Centres of Excellence in the Universities and provide nation and
international linkage for the growth of science and technology in frontier
(r) co-ordinate research funding at national and international level for promotion of
scientific research in the Universities;

Powers and
functions of
Council

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(s) promote Institutes of Excellence within or outside the University system in frontier
areas of knowledge like molecular biology, genetic engineering, aerospace, biotechnology and
the like;
(t) make suggestions to the Government in determining the block maintenance grants to
Universities and institutions of higher education, by evolving suitable guidelines for such grants;
(u) set up a State Centre for Scientific Research and to co-ordinate the research
activities among Universities;
(v) examine the statutes, ordinances and regulations of Universities in the State and
suggest modifications to maintain uniformity in the administration without prejudice to the
autonomy for the academic pursuits;
(w) make suggestions for the Government regarding improvements to the laws relating
to Universities including the laws relating to the establishment of new Universities;
(x) institute prestigious awards to outstanding scientists, academicians and
technologists for their contributions;
(y) administer and release grants-in-aid from the Government to Universities;
(z) identify and administer innovative programmes for sustainable growth through selfgenerating funds from services such as consultancy to industries, institutions and national and
international organizations;
(aa) administer and release research funds, if any, received from national and
international funding agencies;

(ab) work in liaison with the All India Council for Technical Education in relation to
technical education;
(ac) advice the Government or any university, college or institution of higher education
on any other matter relating to higher education and research which they may refer to the
Council; and
(ad) perform such other functions necessary for promoting excellence in higher
education and scientific research, as maybe prescribed.
Meetings of
Council

11. The Council shall meet, as often as may be necessary, at such time and place and observe
such rules of procedure as may be provided in regulations:
Provided that the Council shall meet at least once in three months.

Staff of Council

12. The Council shall appoint such number of employees as may be necessary for the efficient
performance of its functions. The terms and conditions of service of the employees of the Council
shall be such as may be provided in the regulations.

Budget of
Council

13. The Council shall prepare in such form and at such time as may be prescribed, a budget in
respect of the next financial year showing the estimated receipt and expenditure and a copy of the
budget shall be forwarded to the Government.

Fund to
Council

14.(1) The Council shall have its own Fund and all sums which may from time to time be paid
to it by the Government and all the receipts of the Council (including any sum which the Central
Government, the University Grants Commission or any other authority or person may hand over
to the Council) shall be credited to such Fund

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(2) (a) The Government shall pay to the Council in each financial year block grants,
development grants and matching grants and such other sum intended for Universities as the
Government may consider necessary for the performance of the functions of the Council under
this Act.
(b) The Government may pay to the Council in each financial year such sums as may
be considered necessary for the functioning of the Council.
(3) All expenditure incurred by the Council under or for the purposes of this Act shall be
defrayed from out of the said Fund and any surplus remaining, after such expenditure has been
met, shall be invested in such manner as maybe prescribed.
15.(1) The accounts of the Council shall be maintained in such manner and in such form as
may be prescribed. The Council shall prepare an annual statement of accounts in such form as
may be prescribed.

Annual
Accounts and
Audit

(2) The accounts of the Council shall be audited atleast once in a year by such auditor as the
Government may appoint in this behalf.
(3) The auditor appointed under sub-section (2) shall, for purposes of audit, have such
rights, privileges and authority as may be prescribed.
(4) The Member-Secretary to the Council shall cause the audit report to be printed and
forward a printed and forward a printed copy thereof, to each member and shall place such report
before the Council for consideration at its next meeting.
(5) The Council shall take appropriate action forthwith to remedy any defect or irregularity
that maybe pointed out in the audit report.
(6) The accounts of the Council as certified by the auditor together with the audit report
along with the remarks of the Council thereon shall be forwarded to the Government within such
time as may be prescribed.
(7) The Government may, by order in writing, direct the Council to take such action as may
be specified in order to remedy, within such time as may be specified therein, the defects, if any,
disclosed in the audit report, and the Council shall comply with such direction.

Central Act
XLV of 1860

16. The Council shall, as soon as may be, after the end of each financial year, prepare and
submit to the Government, before such date and in such form as maybe prescribed, a report
giving an account of its activities during the previous year and the report shall also give an
account of the activities, if any, which are likely to be undertaken by the Council in the next
financial year an d the Government shall cause every such report to be laid before the Legislative
Assembly as soon as may be after its receipt. A copy of the annual report shall also be forwarded
to the University Grants Commission.

Annual report

17. The Government may issue to the Council such directions as in their opinion, are necessary
or expedient for carrying out the purposes of this Act and the Council shall give effect to all such
directions.

Powers to issue
directions.

18. The Council shall have power to act, notwithstanding any vacancy in the membership or
any defect in the constitution thereof, and the proceedings of the Council shall be valid
notwithstanding that some person, who was not entitled to be a member had sat, voted or
otherwise taken part in the proceedings of the Council.

Proceedings of
Council not to
be invalidated
by infirmities

19. The Chairman, Vice-Chairman, members, the Member-Secretary and other employees of
the Council shall be deemed, when acting or purporting to act in pursuance of any of the
provisions of this Act, or any rule or regulation or order or direction made or issued under this
Act, to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.

Members and
employees of
Council to be
public servant

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Protection of
action taken in
good faith

Power to make
rules

20. No suit or other legal proceedings shall be against the Government, the Council or any
member thereof or any employee or person acting under the direction of the Government or the
Council, in respect of anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of
this A ct or any rule, regulation, order or direction made or issued under this Act.
21.(1) The Government may make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
(2) Every rule made under this Act or an order made under section 23 shall, as soon as
possible after it is made, be placed on the Table of the Legislative Assembly and if, before the
expiry of the session in which it is so placed or the next session, the Assembly makes any
modification in any such rule or order, or the Assembly decides that the rule or order should not
be made, the rule or order shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no
effect, as the case maybe, so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without
prejudice to the validity or anything previously done under that rule or order.

Power to make
regulations

22. The Council may, subject to any rules made by the Government and with the previous
approval ;of the Government, make regulations for carrying out the powers and functions of the
Council under this Act.

Power to
remove
difficulties

23. If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Government may, as
occasion requires, by order, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, do anything which
appears to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of removing the difficulty;
Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiry of two years from the date of the
commencement of this Act.