West Bengal Governor C. V. Ananda Bose has welcomed the Supreme Court's verdict on the role of the Governor, who is the ex-officio Chancellor of State-run universities, in the appointment of Vice-Chancellors, asserting the apex court has clarified the legal position of the Chancellor in the matter.
The Supreme Court, while hearing a case pertaining to the reappointment of Kerala's Kannur University Vice-Chancellor, said the Governor is not a mere titular head and in the selection of V-Cs, he is the sole judge and his opinion is final in all respects. By virtue of his office as the ex-officio Chancellor, he is not bound to act under the advice of the Council of Ministers.
"The Supreme Court has clarified the legal position of the Chancellor in the appointment of V-Cs... the Chancellor is the authority to appoint V-Cs. The court made it very clear that the State government of any State should keep off university administration, particularly in the appointment of V-Cs," Mr. Bose told reporters in Kolkata, on December 1.
