Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. (file photo)
State Bureau, Kolkata. There will be no change in the post of Chancellor in the universities of Bengal. President Draupadi Murmu has not given his assent to two amendments to the 'West Bengal University Law (Amendment) Bill, 2022'.
This bill proposed to make the Chief Minister the Chancellor instead of the Governor in the aided universities of the state. The state government had argued that this would speed up administrative decision making and make the government's role in the running of the university more effective. With the bills not being approved by the President, Governor CV Anand Bose will continue to hold the post of Chancellor of the universities.
What was said from Raj Bhavan?
Raj Bhavan has also made it clear that the Governor will perform the responsibility of the Chancellor of the universities like before. Governor CV Anand Bose had sent these bills passed by the Bengal Assembly on April 20, 2024, for the consideration of the President.
Experts believe that according to the Constitution, the Governor is the ex-officio Chancellor of the University and any change in this system requires extra caution constitutionally. It is clear from the President's disagreement that legal and constitutional questions remained in the proposed amendments.
Also read: BJP's sharp attack on Mamata Banerjee, comparison with Hitler