KOLKATA, Dec 15 : There will be no immediate change in the post of Chancellor of state-aided universities in West Bengal after President Droupadi Murmu withheld assent to two amendment bills proposed by the state government.
As a result, the proposal to replace the Governor with the Chief Minister as Chancellor has not come into effect, and Governor C V Ananda Bose will continue to hold the post.
According to an official communication from Lok Bhawan, formerly Raj Bhawan, Kolkata, the Governor had on April 20, 2024, reserved The West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022 for the consideration of the President of India.
The bill sought to replace the Governor with the Chief Minister as Chancellor of state-aided universities.
The communication further stated that on the same day, the Governor also reserved two other bills for presidential consideration – The Aliah University (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which proposed replacing the Governor with the Chief Minister as Amir-i-Jamia (Chancellor), and The West Bengal University of Health Sciences (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which carried a similar provision for state-aided universities.
Lok Bhawan clarified that the principal Acts governing state-aided universities explicitly state that “the Governor shall, by virtue of his office, be the Chancellor of the University.”
The President has now withheld assent from all the above bills, the communication issued by the Officer on Special Duty said.
The decision has brought visible relief at Lok Bhawan in Kolkata, as it ensures that Governor C V Ananda Bose will continue discharging his duties as Chancellor of the state-aided universities.
Lok Bhawan has also stated that the Governor will carry on with his role as Chancellor as per the existing legal framework.
The amendment bills had been passed by the West Bengal Assembly with the state government arguing that appointing the Chief Minister as Chancellor would speed up administrative decision-making and help resolve prolonged delays, particularly in the appointment of vice-chancellors.
However, after scrutiny at the central level, assent was withheld, leaving the current arrangement unchanged.
Political observers and members of the academic community believe the development has added another layer to the ongoing tussle between the state government and Lok Bhawan over university administration and vice-chancellor appointments.
Experts point out that constitutionally, the Governor functions as Chancellor by virtue of office, and any change to this system requires careful legal and constitutional examination.
Opposition parties, particularly the BJP, had opposed the bills from the outset, claiming that such amendments would undermine university autonomy and increase political interference in higher education.
Following the President’s decision, speculation has begun over the state government’s next move – whether it will introduce a fresh amendment with revised provisions or seek judicial intervention.
(UNI)
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