Hindi English Translation || Editorial || The Chancellor conundrum: On West Bengal decision to make CM as Chancellor

The Chancellor conundrum: On West Bengal decision to make CM as Chancellor

The time may have come to reconsider (पुनर्विचार करना, फिर से सोचना) having Governors as university Chancellors (कुलाधिपति)

The West Bengal government’s decision to make the Chief Minister the Chancellor of State-run (government-owned) universities, instead of (के बजाय, के स्थान में) the Governor, appears to be an outcome (नतीजा, परिणाम, प्रभाव) of the severely strained (तनावपूर्ण, अजीब, असहज) relations between Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. They have often (अक्सर, बार-बार, कई बार) differed (अलग होना, अंतर करना) on issues concerning (विषय में, के बारे में, के विषय पर) the appointment of Vice-Chancellors (The Vice-Chancellor is the academic and executive head of the University. The Vice-Chancellor provides both academic and administrative leadership. The Vice-Chancellor is appointed by the Chancellor on the recommendation of the Government) and the functioning of universities. Mr. Dhankhar had alleged (आरोप, दावा करना, घोषित करना) that VCs were appointed without the approval of the Chancellor, the appointing authority (नियुक्ति प्राधिकारी); on some occasions (अवसर, उदाहरण, समय), VCs had not turned up (उपस्थित होना, उप्स्थित वस्तु) for a meeting with the Governor-Chancellor. Friction (टकराव, संघर्ष, असहमति) has arisen elsewhere too. Tamil Nadu recently passed Bills to empower (सशक्तिकरण, अनुमति देना) the State government, instead of the Chancellor, to appoint VCs. It also passed a separate Bill (draft statute/law, proposed legislation, proposal (presented to parliament/state legislative assembly for discussion)) to establish a new university for alternative systems of medicine with the Chief Minister as its Chancellor. The Bills are yet to receive the Governor’s assent (authorization, permission, approval). In Kerala, there is a different kind of controversy (trouble, disturbance, storm), with Governor Arif Mohammed Khan asking the Chief Minister to take over (take control of, take charge of, assume responsibility for) the Chancellor’s role in the light of (taking into consideration, considering, taking into account, bearing in mind, keeping in mind, taking note of, in view of) alleged (supposed, claimed, professed, purported, reported, ostensible) political interference (intervention, involvement, meddling) in the functioning of universities. These developments (event, turn of events, occurrence, happening, circumstance, incident, phenomenon, situation, issue) underscore (underline, emphasize, highlight) that the conferment (the giving/ providing/granting of something (right/benefit & etc.)) of statutory (legitimate, legal, rightful, lawful; permissible, admissible, allowable, acceptable, constitutional) roles to Governors may be a source of friction between elected regimes (government) and Governors who are seen as agents (representative, proxy, trustee, delegate, spokesperson, mouthpiece) of the Centre.

The original intent (intention, purpose, scope (of the law)) of making Governors hold (possess, have, own, be the owner of) the office of Chancellor and vesting (entrust, bestow, confer, grant, give (power/authority to someone)) some statutory powers on them was to insulate (protect, safeguard, shield) universities from political influence (control, sway, domination). Even in the 1980s, as noted by the Justice R.S. Sarkaria Commission (The Sarkaria Commission (under the Chairmanship of Justice R.S. Sarkaria with Shri B. Sivaraman and Dr. S.R. Sen as its member) was set up in 1983 by the central government of India. The Sarkaria Commission was set up to examine and review the working of the existing arrangements between the Union and States in regard to powers, functions and responsibilities in all spheres and recommend such changes or other measures as may be appropriate), the use of discretion by some Governors in some university appointments had come in for (receive, experience, undergo, meet with, encounter, face, go through, be subjected to, have to put up with, have to bear) criticism. It acknowledged (accept, recognize, realize) the distinction (difference, variance, variation) between the Governor’s constitutional (relating to something (role) as per the Constitution) role and the statutory role performed as a Chancellor, and also underlined (emphasize, draw/focus attention on, highlight, underscore) that the Chancellor is not obliged (compel, obligate, coerce, pressure, pressurize) to seek (request, ask for, appeal) the government’s advice. However, it did say there was an obvious (clear, apparent, conspicuous, noticeable, observable, visible) advantage in the Governor consulting the Chief Minister or the Minister concerned. The Justice M.M. Punchhi Commission (The Government of India constituted a Commission on Centre-State Relations under the chairmanship of Justice Madan Mohan Punchhi, former Chief Justice of India on 27th April 2007 to look into the new issues of Centre-State relations keeping in view the changes that have taken place in the polity and economy of India since the Sarkaria Commission had last looked at the issue of Centre-State relations over two decades ago), which examined Centre-State relations decades (a period of ten years) later, was quite forthcoming (communicative, informative, expressive, frank, open, candid) in its 2010 report. Noting that the Governor should not be “burdened (problem, worry, affliction, difficulty, misfortune) with positions and powers... which may expose (make vulnerable, make subject, lay open) the office to controversies or public criticism”, it advised against conferring (grant, bestow, present/give) statutory powers (a legal power given by statute law) on the Governor. It felt that the practice of making the Governor the Chancellor of universities ceased (come to an end, halt, stop, conclude, terminate, finish, be over) to have relevance (significance, importance). Quite presciently (prophetically, predicatively, insightfully/intuitively), it took note of the potential (possibilities, potentiality, prospects) for friction: “... Ministers will naturally be interested in regulating (control, manage, direct, guide, govern, administer) university education, and there is no need to perpetuate (cause to continue something indefinitely, particularly a bad situation, an attitude/idea/belief, etc.; keep going, keep in existence, extend/prolong) a situation where there would be a clash of functions and powers.” The time may have come for all States to reconsider having the Governor as the Chancellor. However, they should also find alternative means (method, way, manner, mode, process, procedure) of protecting university autonomy (independence, freedom, self-rule) so that ruling parties do not exercise (use, employ, make use of, utilize) undue (excessive, extreme, immoderate) influence on the functioning of universities.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Chancellor (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कुलाधिपति
English Meaning - The chancellor is titular head of a state university. In almost all states, the Governor serves as ex-officio chancellor, and in this capacity appoints vice-chancellors of state universities and presides over convocation ceremonies, among other responsibilities. (As per the provisions of the Act of the concerned University, the Governor appoints the Vice Chancellor on the advice/in consultation with the State Government).

2.reconsider (verb)

Hindi Meaning - पुनर्विचार करना, फिर से सोचना
English Meaning - rethink, relook, think over, re-evaluate, reassess.

3.instead of (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - के बजाय, के स्थान में
English Meaning - rather than.

4.outcome (noun)

Hindi Meaning - नतीजा, परिणाम, प्रभाव
English Meaning - result, consequence, effect.

5.strained (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - तनावपूर्ण, अजीब, असहज
English Meaning - awkward, uneasy, edgy, uncomfortable, difficult, troubled, embarrassed.

6.often (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - अक्सर, बार-बार, कई बार
English Meaning - frequently, repeatedly, many times.

7.differ (verb)

Hindi Meaning - अलग होना, अंतर करना
English Meaning - disagree, dissent, be in dispute, be in opposition, clash, cross swords, lock horns.

8.concerning (preposition)

Hindi Meaning - विषय में, के बारे में, के विषय पर
English Meaning - about, regarding, on the subject of, relating to, with regard to, with reference to.

9.allege (verb)

Hindi Meaning - आरोप, दावा करना, घोषित करना
English Meaning - claim, assert, declare, state, contend, argue, charge, accuse.

10.appointing authority (noun)

Hindi Meaning - नियुक्ति प्राधिकारी
English Meaning - a person (or a group of persons) who has the authority empowered to make appointments to the post of VCs (in this context).

11.authority (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्राधिकरण, अधिकार, शक्ति
English Meaning - authorization, right, power.

12.occasion (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अवसर, उदाहरण, समय
English Meaning - instance, time, moment.

13.turn up (phrasal verb)

Hindi Meaning - उपस्थित होना, उप्स्थित वस्तु
English Meaning - arrive, be present, attend.

14.friction (noun)

Hindi Meaning - टकराव, संघर्ष, असहमति
English Meaning - conflict, discord, disagreement, dissent, opposition, clashing.

15.empower (verb)

Hindi Meaning - सशक्तिकरण, अनुमति देना
English Meaning - authorize, permit, allow.

16.titular (adjective)

English Meaning - nominal, in name only, formal, official.

17.ex-officio (adjective)

English Meaning - a Latin phrase that literally translates “from the office.” by virtue of one’s office; acting, emeritus.

18.conundrum (noun)

English Meaning - problem, difficulty, quandary/dilemma.

19.state-run (adjective)

English Meaning - government-owned.

20.Vice-Chancellor (VC)(noun)

English Meaning - The Vice-Chancellor is the academic and executive head of the University. The Vice-Chancellor provides both academic and administrative leadership. The Vice-Chancellor is appointed by the Chancellor on the recommendation of the Government.

21.Pro Chancellor (noun)

English Meaning - Deputy Vice-chancellor.

22.on occasion (phrase)

English Meaning - occasionally, sometimes, from time to time, now and then.

23.Bill (noun)

English Meaning - draft statute/law, proposed legislation, proposal (presented to parliament/state legislative assembly for discussion).

24.assent (noun)

English Meaning - authorization, permission, approval.

25.controversy (noun)

English Meaning - trouble, disturbance, storm.

26.take over (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - take control of, take charge of, assume responsibility for.

27.in the light of (phrase)

English Meaning - taking into consideration, considering, taking into account, bearing in mind, keeping in mind, taking note of, in view of.

28.alleged (adjective)

English Meaning - supposed, claimed, professed, purported, reported, ostensible.

29.interference (noun)

English Meaning - intervention, involvement, meddling.

30.development (noun)

English Meaning - event, turn of events, occurrence, happening, circumstance, incident, phenomenon, situation, issue.

31.underscore (verb)

English Meaning - underline, emphasize, highlight.

32.conferment (noun)

English Meaning - the giving/ providing/granting of something (right/benefit & etc.).

33.statutory (adjective)

English Meaning - legitimate, legal, rightful, lawful; permissible, admissible, allowable, acceptable, constitutional.

34.regime (noun)

English Meaning - government.

35.agent (noun)

English Meaning - representative, proxy, trustee, delegate, spokesperson, mouthpiece.

36.intent (noun)

English Meaning - intention, purpose, scope (of the law).

37.hold (verb)

English Meaning - possess, have, own, be the owner of.

38.vest (verb)

English Meaning - entrust, bestow, confer, grant, give (power/authority to someone).

39.insulate (verb)

English Meaning - protect, safeguard, shield.

40.influence (noun)

English Meaning - control, sway, domination.

41.Sarkaria Commission (noun)

English Meaning - The Sarkaria Commission (under the Chairmanship of Justice R.S. Sarkaria with Shri B. Sivaraman and Dr. S.R. Sen as its member) was set up in 1983 by the central government of India. The Sarkaria Commission was set up to examine and review the working of the existing arrangements between the Union and States in regard to powers, functions and responsibilities in all spheres and recommend such changes or other measures as may be appropriate.

42.discretion (noun)

English Meaning - choice, option, judgement, preference, disposition, volition; desire, will.

43.come in for (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - receive, experience, undergo, meet with, encounter, face, go through, be subjected to, have to put up with, have to bear.

44.acknowledge (verb)

English Meaning - accept, recognize, realize.

45.distinction (noun)

English Meaning - difference, variance, variation.

46.constitutional (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to something (role) as per the Constitution.

47.underline (verb)

English Meaning - emphasize, draw/focus attention on, highlight, underscore.

48.oblige (verb)

English Meaning - compel, obligate, coerce, pressure, pressurize.

49.seek (verb)

English Meaning - request, ask for, appeal.

50.obvious (adjective)

English Meaning - clear, apparent, conspicuous, noticeable, observable, visible.

51.M.M. Punchhi Commission (noun)

English Meaning - The Government of India constituted a Commission on Centre-State Relations under the chairmanship of Justice Madan Mohan Punchhi, former Chief Justice of India on 27th April 2007 to look into the new issues of Centre-State relations keeping in view the changes that have taken place in the polity and economy of India since the Sarkaria Commission had last looked at the issue of Centre-State relations over two decades ago.

52.decade (noun)

English Meaning - a period of ten years.

53.forthcoming (adjective)

English Meaning - communicative, informative, expressive, frank, open, candid.

54.burden (noun)

English Meaning - problem, worry, affliction, difficulty, misfortune.

55.expose (verb)

English Meaning - make vulnerable, make subject, lay open.

56.confer (verb)

English Meaning - grant, bestow, present/give.

57.statutory power (noun)

English Meaning - a legal power given by statute law.

58.cease (verb)

English Meaning - come to an end, halt, stop, conclude, terminate, finish, be over.

59.relevance (noun)

English Meaning - significance, importance.

60.presciently (adverb)

English Meaning - prophetically, predicatively, insightfully/intuitively.

61.take note of (phrase)

English Meaning - pay attention, take heed, heed, follow.

62.potential (noun)

English Meaning - possibilities, potentiality, prospects.

63.regulate (verb)

English Meaning - control, manage, direct, guide, govern, administer.

64.perpetuate (verb)

English Meaning - cause to continue something indefinitely, particularly a bad situation, an attitude/idea/belief, etc.; keep going, keep in existence, extend/prolong.

65.the time has come (phrase)

English Meaning - it is the right time to do something (or) it is the right moment for something to happen.

66.means (noun)

English Meaning - method, way, manner, mode, process, procedure.

67.autonomy (noun)

English Meaning - independence, freedom, self-rule.

68.exercise (verb)

English Meaning - use, employ, make use of, utilize.

69.undue (adjective)

English Meaning - excessive, extreme, immoderate.