Prez rejects WB govt’s Bill to make CM chancellor of universities
In a significant development, President Droupadi Murmu has rejected the West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which aimed to replace the Governor with the Chief Minister as the Chancellor of all state-run universities. This move has been seen as a major setback for the West Bengal government, which had been pushing for the amendment. The Bill was reserved by Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose for the President’s consideration in April 2024, and now, the President’s rejection has put an end to the state government’s efforts to bring about this change.
The West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022, was introduced by the state government with the objective of making the Chief Minister the Chancellor of all state-run universities. The Bill had proposed to amend the existing laws governing the universities in the state, which currently have the Governor as the Chancellor. The state government had argued that having the Chief Minister as the Chancellor would enable better coordination and management of the universities, as the Chief Minister is the head of the state government and is responsible for the overall development of the state.
However, the Bill had faced opposition from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other critics, who had raised concerns about the potential for political interference in the education system. They had argued that having the Chief Minister as the Chancellor would give the ruling party undue influence over the universities, which could compromise their autonomy and academic freedom. The critics had also pointed out that the Governor, as the Chancellor, is a neutral figure who can ensure that the universities are run in a fair and impartial manner.
The BJP had been vocal in its opposition to the Bill, with its leaders arguing that the move was an attempt by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government to exert control over the universities and use them for political purposes. The party had also claimed that the Bill was a part of the TMC’s larger design to undermine the autonomy of institutions and concentrate power in the hands of the Chief Minister.
The President’s rejection of the Bill has been seen as a major victory for the BJP and other critics, who had been opposing the amendment. The move is also expected to have implications for the state government’s relations with the Governor, who had reserved the Bill for the President’s consideration. The Governor’s decision to reserve the Bill had been seen as a sign of his disagreement with the state government’s move, and the President’s rejection has vindicated his stance.
The rejection of the Bill has also sparked a debate about the role of the Governor in the state’s education system. While the state government had argued that the Governor’s role as Chancellor is ceremonial, the Governor’s office has maintained that the Chancellor has a crucial role to play in ensuring the autonomy and academic freedom of the universities. The Governor’s office has also pointed out that the Chancellor is responsible for appointing the Vice-Chancellors and other key officials of the universities, and that this role cannot be taken over by the Chief Minister.
The West Bengal government has not yet commented on the President’s rejection of the Bill, but it is expected to challenge the decision in the coming days. The state government may try to introduce a new Bill or amend the existing laws to achieve its objective of making the Chief Minister the Chancellor of the universities. However, the President’s rejection has set a precedent, and it is unlikely that the state government will be able to push through the amendment without addressing the concerns about political interference in the education system.
In conclusion, the President’s rejection of the West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022, is a significant development that has far-reaching implications for the state’s education system. The move has been seen as a major setback for the state government, which had been pushing for the amendment. The rejection has also sparked a debate about the role of the Governor in the state’s education system and the potential for political interference in the universities. As the state government tries to find a way to achieve its objective, it will have to address the concerns about autonomy and academic freedom of the universities.
News Source: https://x.com/airnewsalerts/status/2000530778275618943
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