Role of Governor and President in the Universities

Why in news?

• A tussle between the Chief Minister of West Bengal and Governor came to the fore over the appointment of 10 senior professors as interim Vice-Chancellors (VC) of state-run universities.

Role of Governor and President in the Universities:

• State Universities:
  • In the state universities, the Governor of the state is the ex-officio chancellor of the universities in that state.
  • While as Governor she/he functions with the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, as Chancellor she/he acts independently of the Council of Ministers and takes his own decisions on all University matters.
  • According to the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, 2018, the VC of a university, in general, is appointed by the Visitor/Chancellor, from a panel of three to five names recommended by the duly constituted Search cum Selection Committee.
  • Where there is a conflict between the State University Act and the UGC Regulations, 2018 to the extent State legislation is repugnant, the UGC Regulations, 2018 shall prevail.
  • According to Article 254(1), if any provision of a state law is repugnant to a provision in a law made by the Parliament, which the Parliament is competent to enact, or with any existing law regarding any matter in the Concurrent List, then the Parliamentary law would prevail over the State law.
• Central Universities:
  • Under the Central Universities Act, 2009, the President of India shall be the Visitor of a central university.
  • With their role limited to presiding over convocations, Chancellors in central universities are titular heads, who are appointed by the President in his capacity as Visitor.
  • The Vice Chancellor is appointed by the Visitor from panels of names picked by search and selection committees formed by the Union government.
  • A visitor is empowered to call for a set of fresh names in case of dissatisfaction with the given panel.
  • The Act adds that the President, as Visitor, shall have the right to authorize inspections of academic and non-academic aspects of the universities and to institute inquiries.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following statements:

1. The Vice Chancellor in a Central University is appointed by the President

2. Governor as a Chancellor of State University Acts independently of the Council of Ministers and takes his own decisions on all University matters.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer