West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Friday ordered a judicial inquiry into allegations of corruption, violence and misuse of university campuses for political purposes, a statement by Raj Bhavan said on Friday triggering sharp criticism by the Trinamool Congress which said that Bose had set a “bad precedent”.
The latest development comes a day after the Governor had demanded the sacking of the State Education Minister Bratya Basu from the Mamata Banerjee Cabinet, but the State Government instead shot off a nine-page letter reminding the Governor of his constitutional responsibilities, limits and obligations.
The State Government further pointed out that, as per Supreme Court directives, the authority for the removal or appointment of any Minister in the State belongs exclusively to the Chief Minister. The letter emphasised that the Governor lacks the constitutional mandate to recommend the removal of any Minister, and his directives hold no legal standing.
On Friday, the statement issued by the Raj Bhavan said: “The inquiry will be headed by a one-man commission headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or High Court.”
The inquiry order comes against the backdrop of West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu addressing the State conference of West Bengal College and University Professor’s Union inside the premises of University of Gour Banga in Malda on March 30. Two Lok Sabha candidates fielded by the Trinamool Congress – Prasun Banerjee in Malda North and Shahnawaz Ali Raihan in Malda South – were present at the meeting along with other district leaders of the party.
“In light of the meeting held at Gour Banga University under the leadership and presence of Basu with other Ministers, MPs, MLAs, and political leaders on March 30, the Chancellor has directed the State Government to take strict action against him for deliberately violating the Model Code of Conduct, including his removal from the Cabinet,” the Governor had said.
West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu questioned Bose’s powers to order a judicial probe and indicated that he hadn’t seen a formal order on the topic. “It is interesting to note that the Chancellor and Governor has ordered a judicial enquiry into corruption, violence and misuse of University campuses in West Bengal for electioneering and political purposes. Now, as we all know that the government is not run through virtual social media like X handle, Facebook – the order of this inquiry should reach the Government as well as the media. One more interesting thing is that the ‘Chancellor and Governor’ has ordered the enquiry. Now the question is that can the Chancellor exercise the powers which the Governor can? Confusion reigns supreme,” Basu wrote on his X handle.
West Bengal Assembly speaker Biman Banerjee said the Governor could not interfere. “I think the Governor has set a bad precedent by doing this. I am not sure if there has been any similar incident in any university across the country. He could have restrained himself. If the Model Code of Conduct has been violated, the Election Commission of India is there to look into it and take appropriate steps. The Governor cannot interfere into it,” Banerjee said.
Senior advocate and CPIM Rajya Sabha MP Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya said the Governor had exceeded his jurisdiction. “I have not seen the order of the Raj Bhavan. But apparently it is beyond the jurisdiction of the Governor. He can order a departmental, administrative enquiry or internal probe in a university. But I don’t think he can order a judicial enquiry,” said Bhattacharya.