The West Bengal government has decided to appoint Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the chancellor of all state-run universities, replacing the Governor.
The move comes in the backdrop of Governor Jadgeep Dhankhar’s clash with the state government over appointments of vice-chancellors across universities.
“Today, we have taken a decision that all state-run universities will have the CM – and not Governor – as the chancellor. This will be taken to the assembly for the Act to be amended,” said said minister Bratya Basu.
Earlier last month, Tamil Nadu had passed a bill empowering the state government to take over the Governor’s power of appointing vice-chancellors to universities.
The governor is at present the chancellor of the state-run universities.This system was first proposed in 2010 by Punchi Commission.
(More to follow)