Politics

Mamata Banerjee govt plans to remove the Governor from the visitor’s chair of a private university

If the governor doesn’t give nod to the bill, the state government might introduce the new system through promulgation of an ordinance, said the source

PGurus Newsdesk

May 28, 2022

If the governor doesn’t give nod to the bill, the state government might introduce the new system through promulgation of an ordinance, said the source

After chancellor row, Mamata Banerjee govt plans to replace Governor as visitor to private varsities

The Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government is now considering closing the doors of private universities for the Governor. Earlier, the state government had taken steps toward replacing West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar as the Chancellor of state universities.

Sources said that a process has started to remove the Governor from the chair of visitor in private universities and replace him with the state Education Minister Bratya Basu.

The state government has already announced that they might adopt this ordinance route in case of the proposed bill on the replacement of the Governor with the Chief Minister. The proposal was cleared by the cabinet on May 26 and a formal announcement on this count was made by Basu on the same day.

One of the sources from the state Education Department said, “The state cabinet members have in-principally agreed on this initiative and now the proposal will be placed in its next meeting for clearance, following which the government will moot a bill on this count in the floor of the Assembly. In case the Governor disagrees to clear the bill then the state government might introduce the new system through an ordinance.”

The opposition parties have criticized the development and described the initiative as ruining the autonomous nature of the state universities. The announcement also invited criticism from a section of educationists in the state.

Under the existing rule, the Governor, as the visitor of private universities, when present, can preside at the convocation of the university for the purpose of conferring degrees, diplomas, awards, and certificates of other academic distinctions.

The visitor also has the power to call for any paper or information relating to the affairs of the university.

[With Inputs from IANS]

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