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 bill to be passed. 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 attempts to bring about this change.
The West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022, was introduced by the West Bengal government with the objective of amending the existing laws governing state-run universities. The bill proposed to replace the Governor, who is currently the Chancellor of all state-run universities, with the Chief Minister. The state government had argued that this change would enable the Chief Minister to have a more direct role in the functioning of universities and would help in improving the overall quality of education.
However, the bill had faced opposition from various quarters, including the BJP and other critics, who had raised concerns about the potential for political interference in the education system. They had argued that making the Chief Minister the Chancellor of universities would lead to politicization of education and would undermine the autonomy of universities. The opposition had also pointed out that the Governor, being a neutral figure, was better suited to play the role of Chancellor, as it would help in maintaining the independence of universities.
The BJP had been particularly vocal in its opposition to the bill, with many of its leaders arguing that the move was an attempt by the West Bengal government to exert control over the education system. They had also pointed out that the bill was a part of a larger design to undermine the federal structure of the country and to concentrate power in the hands of the state government.
Now, with the President’s rejection of the bill, the West Bengal government’s attempts to bring about this change have been thwarted. The rejection is seen as a major victory for the opposition, which had been fighting against the bill. The BJP and other critics have welcomed the President’s decision, saying that it would help in maintaining the autonomy of universities and would prevent politicization of education.
The development is also seen as a significant setback for the West Bengal government, which had been pushing for the bill to be passed. The state government had argued that the change was necessary to improve the quality of education, but its efforts have now been rejected by the President. The rejection is likely to lead to a political slugfest, with the opposition attacking the state government for its attempts to exert control over the education system.
In recent years, there have been concerns about the increasing politicization of education in West Bengal. The state government has been accused of trying to exert control over educational institutions, and the opposition has been critical of its attempts to undermine the autonomy of universities. The rejection of the West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022, is seen as a major blow to the state government’s attempts to exert control over the education system.
The development is also significant in the context of the broader debate about the role of the Governor in the Indian polity. The Governor, as the Chancellor of universities, plays a crucial role in maintaining the autonomy of educational institutions. The opposition to the bill had argued that making the Chief Minister the Chancellor would undermine the independence of universities and would lead to politicization of education.
In conclusion, the President’s rejection of the West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022, is a significant development that has major implications for the education system in West Bengal. The rejection is seen as a major victory for the opposition, which had been fighting against the bill, and is a significant setback for the West Bengal government, which had been pushing for the bill to be passed. The development is likely to lead to a political slugfest, with the opposition attacking the state government for its attempts to exert control over the education system.
The rejection of the bill is also significant in the context of the broader debate about the role of the Governor in the Indian polity. The Governor, as the Chancellor of universities, plays a crucial role in maintaining the autonomy of educational institutions. The opposition to the bill had argued that making the Chief Minister the Chancellor would undermine the independence of universities and would lead to politicization of education.
As the debate about the role of the Governor in the Indian polity continues, the rejection of the West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022, is a significant development that highlights the importance of maintaining the autonomy of educational institutions. The development is a reminder that the education system should be free from political interference and that the independence of universities should be maintained at all costs.
News Source: https://x.com/airnewsalerts/status/2000530778275618943
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