Punjab’s Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has advocated for an amendment to place the elected Chief Minister as Chancellor of state-run universities, rather than the appointed Governor.
During a press interaction in Chandigarh yesterday, Mr. Mann highlighted that similar models have been adopted in some other states where the leader chosen by voters oversees tertiary education. He reasoned that having an ‘elected’ leader as Chancellor ensures the people’s voice is represented in guiding these important institutions.
The comment comes after the President recently returned a state bill proposing this change without granting assent. The CM said a meet will be called to discuss next steps regarding the legislation.
Currently, state Governors appointed by the central government oversee universities as Chancellors. However, Mr. Mann emphasized the need for democracy to be ‘of the elected’ rather than ‘selected’. He contended that an CM would better understand the ethos and priorities of institutions given their proximity to citizens.
If enacted, Punjab would join a few other regions where populist mandates shape higher education strategy through an elected education minister or Chief Minister. Only time will tell if this debate furthers the cause of responsible decentralization or sparks another battle over federal jurisdiction in India.
