Kolkata: President Droupadi Murmu has rejected key amendment Bills passed by the West Bengal Assembly that sought to replace the Governor with the Chief Minister as Chancellor of state universities. The decision effectively blocks the state government’s controversial attempt to concentrate control of higher education in the Chief Minister’s office.
The President withheld assent to two amendment Bills one related to state-aided universities and another concerning Aliah University both of which proposed removing the Governor from the post of Chancellor and appointing the Chief Minister in his place. With the rejection, the existing legal framework remains intact, and the Governor of West Bengal will continue as Chancellor of government-aided and sponsored universities across the state.
President #DroupadiMurmu has rejected an amendment bill passed by #WestBengal assembly proposing Chief Minister's name as the Chancellor in state universities of West Bengal in place of the Governor.
As per information received from Governor's office in Kolkata, Governor Dr C V… pic.twitter.com/U5GxMlZyOb
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) December 15, 2025
According to information from Raj Bhavan (Lok Bhavan) in Kolkata, Governor Dr C V Ananda Bose had reserved the Bills for the President’s consideration on April 20, 2024. The President’s decision now brings the TMC government’s push to a definitive halt.
The West Bengal Legislative Assembly had passed the amendments including changes to the West Bengal University Laws and statutes governing Aliah University and the West Bengal University of Health Sciences arguing that the move would “curb the Governor’s powers” and allow faster academic and administrative decision-making. The state government had maintained that since the Chief Minister is an elected authority, she should have greater say in the functioning of universities.
However, a post from Lok Bhavan underscored that existing Acts clearly designate the Governor as Chancellor “by virtue of office,” and that the proposed changes were inconsistent with the established legal and constitutional framework.
With the President’s refusal, there will be no change in the chancellorship structure. Governor C V Ananda Bose will continue to hold the position of Chancellor of state universities, as mandated under current laws.
The roots of the controversy date back to 2022, when the West Bengal Cabinet approved a proposal to appoint Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as Chancellor. The move was justified by the state government as necessary to “bring momentum” to higher education reforms. However, it immediately triggered sharp political and constitutional debate.
Former Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, during whose tenure the proposal was initiated, had accused the TMC government of bypassing the Governor while appointing vice-chancellors. He had alleged that vice-chancellors of “24 universities were appointed illegally without the chancellor’s approval,” sparking a prolonged standoff between Raj Bhavan and the state secretariat.
The opposition BJP and CPI(M) had strongly opposed the amendments, accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of attempting to politicise higher education and establish direct political control over universities. They alleged that the Bills were aimed at weakening institutional autonomy and undermining constitutional checks and balances.
