Governor Rajendra Arlekar has granted assent to 12 of the 13 bills passed by the TVK government in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. The government gazette has indicated that these 12 measures have now become law and come into force.
The bills were cleared during Assembly sittings held after the TVK government was formed under Chief Minister Vijay. The House met from June 18 to June 23 following the Governor’s address, and later held the budget session from August 5 to September 8, including debates and voting on department-wise grant demands.
The lone bill not cleared relates to permitting the establishment of private universities based on land requirements—12 acres within the Chennai Corporation limits, 18 acres in other corporations and municipalities, and 25 acres in other areas. The bill also proposes reducing the required corpus fund for setting up a private university from Rs 50 crore to Rs 25 crore; the Governor has forwarded it for the President’s assent.
Among the 12 bills that received assent are measures to route recruitment for urban local body posts through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC), extend mandi licence validity for traders from three to five years with online processes, and make amendments linked to GST laws. Other changes include extending the tenure of special officers in certain local bodies until October 19 or until the first meeting after elections, implementing revised allowances for MLAs, and amending laws related to fire and rescue services, town and country planning, VAT tribunal appeal limits, state finance appropriation, creation of an investment promotion agency, and an additional cess on liquor sales.
