President withholds assent to Bengal Bills on university chancellors, Governor to continue in role

President Droupadi Murmu has withheld assent to two amendment Bills passed by the West Bengal government that sought to replace the Governor with the Chief Minister as the chancellor of state-aided universities, effectively maintaining the status quo in the governance of higher education institutions in the state.

With the President’s decision, Governor C.V. Ananda Bose will continue to function as the chancellor of the concerned state-aided universities, as provided under the existing university laws, the Governor’s office said on Wednesday.

The two Bills, the West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and the West Bengal Krishi Viswavidyalaya Laws (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022 were passed by the West Bengal Legislative Assembly in June 2022. These amendments proposed to designate the Chief Minister as the chancellor instead of the Governor, arguing that it would streamline administrative decision-making and reduce delays in appointments and approvals.

In April 2024, Governor Bose reserved the Bills for the consideration of the President under Article 200 of the Constitution, citing the need for a wider constitutional and legal examination. After prolonged consideration, the President has now withheld assent, preventing the amendments from coming into force.

Under the principal Acts governing state-aided universities in West Bengal, the Governor is designated as the chancellor “by virtue of his office.” Since presidential assent has not been granted, these provisions remain unchanged.

The issue forms part of a long-running tussle between the West Bengal government and the Raj Bhavan over control and authority in university administration, particularly regarding the appointment of vice-chancellors and other key officials. Similar legislative attempts by the state government to curtail the Governor’s role in higher education have previously led to institutional deadlock and constitutional debate.

The President’s decision is being seen as a significant development in the ongoing Centre–State and Governor–State dynamics, reinforcing the existing legal framework governing universities in West Bengal. For now, any change in the role of chancellor would require fresh legislation and eventual presidential assent.