In a significant development for West Bengal’s higher education sector, President Droupadi Murmu has withheld her assent from two crucial state legislative bills, effectively blocking the state government’s move to replace the Governor with the Chief Minister as the Chancellor of state-aided universities.

The two bills in question are the West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022, and the Aliah University (Amendment) Bill, 2022. The President’s decision means that the proposed change in the top leadership of these institutions will not be implemented for the time being.

The Proposed Changes in University Governance

The core objective of the rejected West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022, was to amend the principal acts governing state-aided universities. It sought to replace the Governor who currently holds the position of Chancellor ex-officio (by virtue of office) with the Chief Minister as the head of these institutions.

Similarly, the Aliah University (Amendment) Bill, 2022, aimed to introduce a parallel change specifically for Aliah University. This bill proposed to replace the Governor with the Chief Minister in the role of Amir-e-Jamia (the equivalent title for Chancellor in the university).

Many experts believe that had these bills received presidential assent, they would have had a profound impact on the state’s higher education system by shifting the balance of power from Raj Bhavan (the Governor’s residence) to Nabanna (the state secretariat).

Bills Reserved for President’s Consideration

According to reports from Raj Bhavan sources, the two bills were reserved by the Governor for the President’s consideration on April 20, 2024. The legislative process began after the state Cabinet unanimously decided to replace the Governor with the Chief Minister as the Chancellor of all state universities. Following this decision, the state legislature started the process of amending the laws, and the relevant bills were passed in the Assembly before being forwarded to the President via the then-Governor.

Upholding the Status Quo

The President’s decision to not sign the bills is reported to be based on the existing principal laws governing state-aided universities. These statutes clearly and explicitly state that “The Governor shall be the Chancellor of the University ex-officio.”

By declining to give her consent to the proposed amendments, President Murmu has reaffirmed the legal status quo. Consequently, the Governor will continue to serve as the Chancellor (or Amir-e-Jamia) of the state-aided universities, and the proposed elevation of the Chief Minister to this role remains on hold. This marks a critical moment in the ongoing administrative dynamic between the West Bengal State Government and the Governor’s office.

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